| 摘要 |
A metering system for an air cart is provided in which a portion, preferably one-half, of a meter roller can be selectively disengaged from a common drive input. The metering system typically comprises two roller halves located in a common housing. The driven half of the meter roller is directly rotated by the rotation of the drive input. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the controlled half of the meter roller is engaged or disengaged from rotation by a wrap spring clutch. The drive input does not engage the controlled meter roller half directly. Instead, the drive input extends within a hollow shaft which extends through the controlled half of the meter roller with the drive input lying concentrically within it. When only half the meter roller is required, the operator can disengage the clutch and stop rotation of the controlled half of the meter roller without stopping the operation of the air cart. In other words, the drive input provides continued rotation of the driven half of the roller with rotation of the controlled half being dependent on activation and deactivation of the clutch. This unique design enables the meter assembly to be contained in a common housing while providing a simple ways for controlling a portion, e.g. half, of the meter roller. The clutch may be remotely activated by the operator. Therefore, when the operator requires the entire meter roller to rotate, the clutch is engaged. When only half the meter roller is required, the operator can disengage the clutch and stop rotation of the controlled half of the meter roller without stopping overall operation of the air cart.
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