Ringed meter rollers and slide cutoff system

{
  "publication_number": "US9909914B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Ringed meter rollers and slide cutoff system",
  "abstract": "A system includes an agricultural metering system a meter roller configured to meter product from an agricultural product storage compartment to a product distribution system via rotation of the meter roller. The meter roller includes a first meter roller segment having a first plurality of flutes and a corresponding first plurality of recesses, and a second meter roller segment having a second plurality of flutes and a corresponding second plurality of recesses. The first meter roller segment includes a first profile, the second meter roller includes a second profile, and the first profile is different from the second profile. The system also has a dividing ring axially positioned between the first meter roller segment and the second meter roller segment.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An agricultural metering system, comprising: a meter roller configured to meter product from an agricultural product storage compartment to a product distribution system via rotation of the meter roller, wherein the meter roller comprises: a first meter roller segment having a first plurality of flutes and a corresponding first plurality of recesses; a second meter roller segment having a second plurality of flutes and a corresponding second plurality of recesses, wherein the first meter roller segment comprises a first profile, the second meter roller segment comprises a second profile, and the first profile is different from the second profile; and a dividing ring axially positioned between the first meter roller segment and the second meter roller segment, wherein the first meter roller segment comprises a first axial protrusion configured to engage an opening of the dividing ring.",
    "2. The agricultural metering system of claim 1, wherein the first meter roller segment comprises a first axial length, and the second meter roller segment comprises a second axial length, and the first axial length is different from the second axial length.",
    "3. The agricultural metering system of claim 1, wherein the second meter roller segment comprises a second axial protrusion, and the first axial protrusion is configured to engage the second axial protrusion.",
    "4. The agricultural metering system of claim 1, comprising a third meter roller segment having a third plurality of flutes and a corresponding third plurality of recesses.",
    "5. The agricultural metering system of claim 4, comprising a second dividing ring axially positioned between the second meter roller segment and the third meter roller segment.",
    "6. The agricultural metering system of claim 1, comprising a dividing slat configured to divide the product into a first portion configured to flow over the first meter roller segment, and a second portion configured to flow over the second meter roller segment.",
    "7. The agricultural metering system of claim 6, wherein the dividing slat is configured to substantially match a shape of the first dividing ring.",
    "8. The agricultural metering system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of flutes and recesses has more flutes and recesses than the second plurality of flutes and recesses.",
    "9. The agricultural metering system of claim 1, wherein at least one flute of the first plurality of flutes, the second plurality of flutes, or any combination thereof, helically twists about a rotational axis of the meter roller, is angled relative to the rotational axis of the meter roller, or any combination thereof.",
    "10. An agricultural metering system, comprising: a meter roller configured to meter product from an agricultural product storage compartment to a product distribution system via rotation of the meter roller, wherein the meter roller comprises: a first meter roller segment having a first plurality of flutes and a corresponding first plurality of recesses; a second meter roller segment having a second plurality of flutes and a corresponding second plurality of recesses, wherein the first meter roller segment comprises a first profile, the second meter roller segment comprises a second profile, and the first profile is different from the second profile; and a dividing ring axially positioned between the first meter roller segment and the second meter roller segment, wherein the dividing ring comprises a circular profile on an outer circumference of the dividing ring, wherein the dividing ring is configured to block the product from passing between the first meter roller segment and the second meter roller segment.",
    "11. The agricultural metering system of claim 10, wherein the first meter roller segment, the second meter roller segment, or both, comprise a first axial protrusion configured to engage an opening the dividing ring.",
    "12. The agricultural metering system of claim 11, wherein the first meter roller segment comprises the first axial protrusion and the second meter roller segment comprises a second axial protrusion configured to engage the first axial protrusion.",
    "13. The agricultural metering system of claim 10, wherein the first meter roller segment comprises a first axial length, and the second meter roller segment comprises a second axial length, and the first axial length is different from the second axial length.",
    "14. The agricultural metering system of claim 10, wherein the first meter roller segment comprises a first plurality of axial protrusions, the second meter roller segment comprises a second plurality of axial protrusions, and each axial protrusion of the first plurality of axial protrusions is configured to engage a respective axial protrusion of the second plurality of axial protrusions.",
    "15. The agricultural metering system of claim 14, wherein the dividing ring comprises a plurality of cutouts configured to receive each of the first plurality of axial protrusions and each of the second plurality of axial protrusions.",
    "16. The agricultural metering system of claim 10, wherein the first plurality of flutes and recesses has more flutes and recesses than the second plurality of flutes and recesses.",
    "17. The agricultural metering system of claim 10, comprising a first body having the first meter roller segment and the second meter roller segment, and a second body comprising the dividing ring.",
    "18. An agricultural metering system, comprising: a meter roller configured to meter product from an agricultural product storage compartment to a product distribution system via rotation of the meter roller, wherein the meter roller comprises: a first meter roller segment having a first plurality of flutes and a corresponding first plurality of recesses; a second meter roller segment having a second plurality of flutes and a corresponding second plurality of recesses, wherein the first meter roller segment comprises a first profile, the second meter roller segment comprises a second profile, and the first profile is different from the second profile; a dividing ring axially positioned between the first meter roller segment and the second meter roller segment; and a gap between the first meter roller segment and the second meter roller segment, wherein the dividing ring is positioned within the gap such that the first meter roller segment and the second meter roller segment block the dividing ring from moving relative to the first meter roller segment and the second meter roller segment, and wherein the dividing ring blocks product from moving between an end of each recess of the first plurality of recesses.",
    "19. The agricultural metering system of claim 18, wherein the first meter roller segment comprises a first axial length, the second meter roller segment comprises a second axial length, and the first axial length is different from the second axial length.",
    "20. The agricultural metering system of claim 18, wherein the first meter roller segment comprises a first plurality of axial protrusions, the second meter roller segment comprises a second plurality of axial protrusions, wherein each axial protrusion of the first plurality of axial protrusions is configured to engage a respective axial protrusion of the second plurality of axial protrusions.",
    "21. The agricultural metering system of claim 20, wherein the dividing ring comprises a plurality of cutouts configured to receive each of the first plurality of axial protrusions and each of the second plurality of axial protrusions.",
    "22. The agricultural metering system of claim 18, comprising a first body having the first meter roller segment and the second meter roller segment, and a second body comprising the dividing ring.",
    "23. An agricultural metering system, comprising: a meter roller configured to meter product from an agricultural product storage compartment to a product distribution system via rotation of the meter roller, wherein the meter roller comprises: a first body comprising: a first meter roller segment having a first plurality of flutes and a corresponding first plurality of recesses; and a second meter roller segment having a second plurality of flutes and a corresponding second plurality of recesses, wherein the first meter roller segment comprises a first profile, the second meter roller segment comprises a second profile, and the first profile is different from the second profile; and a second body nonrotatably coupled to the first body, wherein the second body is configured to be driven by the product distribution system to cause the first body to rotate to distribute the product, wherein the second body comprises a dividing ring axially positioned between the first meter roller segment and the second meter roller segment, and wherein the first body is configured to be molded over the second body.",
    "24. The agricultural metering system of claim 23, wherein the second body is configured to be driven by a drive shaft.",
    "25. The agricultural metering system of claim 23, wherein the first body comprises a cavity configured to couple to the second body.",
    "26. The agricultural metering system of claim 23, wherein the first body comprises grooves configured to engage chamfers of the second body."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to agricultural implements, and more specifically, to ringed meter rollers and a slide cutoff system.\n\nA range of agricultural implements have been developed and are presently in use for tilling, planting, harvesting, and so forth. Seeders, for example, are commonly towed behind tractors and may cover wide swaths of ground which may be tilled or untilled. Such devices typically open the soil, dispense granular product in the soil opening, and re-close the soil in a single operation. In agricultural implements such as seeders or spreaders, granular products are commonly dispensed from bulk product tanks and distributed to row units by a distribution system. In certain configurations, air carts are towed with the implements to deliver a desired flow of granular products to the row units.\n\nAir carts generally include a seed storage tank, an air source (e.g., a blower) and a metering assembly. The granular products are typically gravity fed from the storage tank to the metering assembly that distributes a desired volume of granular products into an air flow generated by the air source. The air flow then carries the granular products to the row units via conduits extending between the air cart and the agricultural implements. The metering assembly typically includes meter rollers or other metering devices that regulate the flow of granular products based on meter roller geometry and rotation rate. However, some granular products differ in size or desired rate of application, and, thus, different meter rollers may be used for the different products.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01F 11/003",
    "A01C 7/102",
    "A01C 7/121",
    "A01C 7/122",
    "A01C 7/125",
    "A01C 7/127",
    "G01F 11/24"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A01C 7/08",
    "A01C 7/20",
    "B65G 29/02",
    "G01F 11/00",
    "A01C 7/12",
    "G01F 11/24"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "CNH Industrial Canada Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Trevor Lawrence Kowalchuk",
    "Gordon Anthony Engel",
    "Jack Donald Turner",
    "Joel John Octave Gervais",
    "James Wayne Henry",
    "Ethan Curtis Stephen Bent"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-11-04",
  "publication_date": "2018-03-06",
  "grant_date": "2018-03-06",
  "priority_date": "2014-11-04",
  "application_number": "US-201514932747-A",
  "family_id": "55851176",
  "cited_by_count": 16,
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}