US 11,885,424 B2
Airflow equalizing system for distributing particulate material
Rex Ruppert, Benson, MN (US); Martin J. Roberge, Saskatoon (CA); and Joel Denis, Saskatoon (CA)
Assigned to CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd., Saskatoon (CA)
Filed by CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd., Saskatoon (CA)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/819,760.
Prior Publication US 2021/0285558 A1, Sep. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. A01M 7/00 (2006.01); F16K 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 17/003 (2013.01) [A01M 7/005 (2013.01); A01M 7/0089 (2013.01); A01M 7/0032 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for distributing particulate material from an applicator, the system comprising:
a plurality of supply lines, each supply line of the plurality of supply lines being configured to receive an airflow and entrain particulate material in the airflow;
a plurality of boom sections, each boom section being connected to a supply line of the plurality of supply lines for receiving an airflow and entrained particulate material, each boom section comprising a plurality of nozzles for distributing particulate material;
a plurality of controlled valves, each valve being arranged in a supply line of the plurality of supply lines, wherein a valve in a first supply line of the plurality of supply lines is configured to actuate to induce pressure in the first supply line so that an air pressure differential between the first supply line and a second supply line of the plurality of supply lines is reduced;
a machine sensor configured to generate data indicative of an orientation of the applicator relative to a field surface; and
a control system configured to:
determine the orientation of the applicator relative to the field surface based on the data generated by the machine sensor;
compare the determined orientation to a predetermined orientation threshold; and
selectively control an operation of at least one of the valve of the first supply line or the valve of the second supply line such that the air pressure differential between the first supply line and the second supply line is reduced when the determined orientation exceeds the predetermined orientation threshold.