40. While the cartridge 60 is engaged with the meter box 40, the shaft of the drive unit engages the meter roller, thereby enabling the meter roller to be driven in rotation. The cartridge 60 has a cross-sectional shape that substantially corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the meter box opening. As illustrated, the meter box 40 includes two cartridge locking tabs 62 configured to selectively block removal of the cartridge 60 from the meter box thereby retaining the cartridge 60 within the meter box 40. In the illustrated embodiment, each locking tab 62 is part of a rotatable latch configured to rotate between the illustrated locked position that blocks removal of the cartridge 60 from the meter box 40 and an unlocked position that facilitates removal of the cartridge 60 from the meter box 40. In certain embodiments, each cartridge locking tab includes a recess that engages a corresponding notch on the cartridge 60 to block unintentional rotation of the rotatable latch while the rotatable latch is in the locked position (e.g., due to vibrations of the air cart). The cartridge 60 may be removed by rotating each rotatable latch in a respective first direction and extracting the cartridge 60. Further, the cartridge 60 may be inserted by engaging the cartridge with the meter box 40, and then rotating each latch in a respective second direction, opposite the respective first direction. While each cartridge locking tab 62 is part of a rotatable latch in the illustrated embodiment, in other embodiments, the cartridge locking tab may be part of a spring latch, a bolt latch, or any suitable type of locking mechanism. Furthermore, while the illustrated meter box includes two locking tabs, in other embodiments, the meter box may include more or fewer locking tabs (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.). In addition, while the locking tab(s) 62 selectively block removal of the cartridge 60 from the meter box 40 in the illustrated embodiment, in other embodiments, the metering system may include other suitable device(s)/system(s) to selectively block removal of the cartridge from the meter box (e.g., alone or in combination with the locking tab(s)), such as a friction fit system, a magnetic system, other suitable device(s)/system(s), or a combination thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the cartridge 60 includes a releasable bearing coupler 68. The releasable bearing coupler 68 retains the meter roller within the cartridge, facilitates rotation of the meter roller within the cartridge, and facilitates removal of the meter roller from the cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the metering system 18 of FIG. 3. As illustrated, the cartridge 60 is engaged with/disposed within the meter box 40 of the metering system 18. One or more components of the cartridge 60 and/or the meter box 40 may include a substrate formed from a polymeric material that is coated with a metallic coating and/or a ceramic coating. The cartridge 60 includes a housing 70 configured to rotatably support the meter roller 28 within the meter box 40 (e.g., the housing 70 is secured to the meter box while the meter roller 28 rotates). The housing includes a first side 72 (e.g., cartridge drive side) and a second side 74 (e.g., cartridge bearing side), which correspond to the first side 43 and second side 61 of the meter box 40, respectively.

The cartridge 60 includes a bearing opening 76 for receiving the releasable bearing coupler 68, and in certain embodiments, a meter roller bearing 78, which may engage the meter roller 28. The meter roller 28 includes a driven shaft 80 configured to engage the drive shaft of the drive unit, thereby non-rotatably coupling the drive shaft to the meter roller. The driven shaft 80 includes a second engagement feature 84 (e.g., recesses) configured to selectively engage the first engagement feature (e.g., protrusions) of the drive shaft. The driven shaft may be an integral part of a meter roller spindle, and the flutes and recesses of the meter roller may be formed on one or more meter roller inserts non-rotatably coupled to the spindle. While the second engagement feature includes recesses in the illustrated embodiment, in other embodiments, the second engagement feature may include a cavity having a polygonal cross-section and configured to engage the drive shaft having a corresponding polygonal cross-section (e.g., first engagement feature). Furthermore, while the illustrated second engagement feature 84 facilitates shape-based engagement with the first engagement feature, in other embodiments, any variety of suitable interlocking mechanisms may be utilized for non-rotatably coupling the meter roller to the drive shaft.

In the illustrated embodiment, a drive bearing 86 is used to facilitate rotation of the drive shaft within the meter box. The drive bearing 86, the driven shaft the drive shaft, and the meter roller bearing 78 associated with the releasable bearing coupler 68 are in longitudinal alignment, thereby facilitating rotation of the meter roller 28 in response to rotation of the drive shaft. The meter roller bearing 78 may be coupled to the releasable bearing coupler 68, the driven shaft 80, or it may be a separate individual element. While the cartridge 60 is engaged with/disposed within the meter box 40, the housing 70 rotatably supports/houses the meter roller 28. To change a meter roller 28, the operator may remove the cartridge 60, replace the meter roller 28, and then reinstall the cartridge 60. Alternatively, the operator may remove the cartridge 60 and replace the cartridge with another cartridge that contains a different meter roller or with a different cartridge type.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the metering system of FIG. 3, in which the cartridge 60 is removed from the meter box 40. One or more components of the cartridge 60 and/or the meter box 40 may include a substrate formed from a polymeric material that is coated with a metallic coating and/or a ceramic coating. To remove the cartridge 60, the operator may rotate the rotatable latches to the unlocked position, in which the locking tabs 62 are positioned to facilitate removal of the cartridge, and extract the cartridge 60 from the meter box 40. As illustrated, the cross-sectional shape of the cartridge 60 (e.g., the cross-sectional shape of the first side 72, the cross-sectional shape of the second side 74, etc.) substantially corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the meter box opening 88.

As illustrated, the meter roller 28 includes flutes 32 and recesses 34, which are configured to enable the meter roller 28 to control the flow of the flowable particulate material into the passage 42. The meter roller 28 is rotatably supported on the second side 74 of the meter roller cartridge 60 by the releasable bearing coupler 68. Once the cartridge 60 is removed from the meter box 40, the releasable bearing coupler 68 may be disengaged and removed from the meter roller/housing. Once the rotatable bearing coupler 68 is removed, the meter roller 28 may be removed through an opening 90, thereby enabling insertion of another meter roller (e.g., suitable for use with material having a larger or smaller particle size, and/or for a higher or lower target application rate).

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge 60 of FIG. 4, in which the meter roller 28 is removed from the housing 70 of the cartridge 60. The housing 70 of the cartridge 60 has a drive shaft opening 92 on the first side 72 of the housing 70 and the bearing opening 76 on the second side 74 of the housing 70. The housing 70 also has the meter roller opening 90 and material receiving openings 94. The material receiving openings 94 are configured to receive the flowable particulate material into the housing 70, thereby enabling the meter roller 28 to receive the material.

To couple the meter roller 28 to the housing 70, the meter roller 28 is disposed within the housing 70 through the meter roller opening 90. While the meter roller 28 is disposed within the housing 70, the drive shaft opening 92 on the first side 72 of the housing 70 aligns with the drive shaft opening (e.g., a recess or interior cavity) of the driven shaft. In addition, the bearing opening 76 on the second side 74 of the housing 70 aligns with a bearing opening 96 (e.g., a recess or interior cavity) of the meter roller 28. The bearing opening 96 may be configured to receive the bearing 78 or the bearing may be fixedly mounted within the opening 96. The openings of the meter roller 28 and the cartridge 60 are longitudinally aligned with one another and with the drive shaft.

The meter roller cartridge 60 and/or the releasable bearing coupler 68 may include gaskets 100. While two gaskets 100 (e.g., O-rings) are included in the illustrated embodiment, in other embodiments, any suitable number of gaskets (e.g., may be used to seal adjacent parts. Once the meter roller 28 is disposed within the housing 70, the bearing opening 96 may receive the releasable bearing coupler 68, and in certain embodiments the meter roller bearing 78, via the bearing opening 76 in the housing 70. The meter roller bearing 78 may be fixedly coupled to the meter roller 28 or fixedly coupled to the releasable bearing coupler 68 in certain embodiments. In further embodiments, the meter roller bearing 78 may be an independent element. The releasable bearing coupler 68 may include the bearing 78, or the releasable bearing coupler 68 may be configured to engage the bearing 78 with a shaft of the releasable bearing coupler 68. Accordingly, the bearing 78 may be configured to engage the opening 96 of the meter roller 28 to facilitate rotation of the meter roller 28 relative to the housing 70 (e.g., rotation about the shaft of the releasable bearing coupler). The bearing coupler 68 is configured to engage the bearing opening 76 and to couple to the housing 70 via corresponding locking elements of the bearing coupler 68 and the housing 70. For example, the locking elements may interlock with one another via rotation of the bearing coupler 68 relative to the housing, thereby coupling the bearing coupler 68 to the housing 70. While the bearing coupler 68 is coupled to the housing 70, the shaft of the bearing coupler 68 rotatably supports the meter roller 28 and secures the meter roller to the housing 70.

In the illustrated embodiment, at least one element of the cartridge 60 may include a substrate formed from a polymeric material, and a metallic coating and/or a ceramic coating may be disposed on the polymeric material of the substrate. For example, the housing 70 may include a substrate formed from a polymeric material, and a metallic coating and/or a ceramic coating may be disposed on the polymeric material of the substrate. The metallic/ceramic coating may be positioned at an inner surface 101 of the housing 70, which may contact the rotating meter roller 28. The metallic/ceramic coating may improve durability and lubricity, thereby reducing friction and/or wear. Additionally or alternatively, the metallic/ceramic coating may be positioned at one or more inner surfaces 103 of the housing 70 configured to engage the particulate material. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the meter roller 28 may include a substrate formed from a polymeric material, and a metallic coating and/or a ceramic coating may be disposed on the polymeric material of the substrate. For example, the metallic/ceramic coating may be positioned at material-engaging surface(s) 105 of the meter roller 28, which are configured to engage the particulate material. Accordingly, the longevity of the surface(s) configured to engage the particulate material may be enhanced. Additionally or alternatively, the metallic/ceramic coating may be positioned at outer surface(s) of the meter roller, which may engage corresponding inner surface(s) of the housing.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a component 112, which may correspond to any suitable metering system component of the metering system of FIG. 3, having a substrate 114 and a coating 116. The substrate 114 (e.g., substrate layer) may be formed from a polymeric material, such as an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene, polycarbonate, another suitable polymeric material, or a combination thereof. As used herein with regard to the substrate, “formed from a polymeric material” refers to a substrate formed entirely from the polymeric material, or a substrate formed from the polymeric material in combination with other suitable material(s), such as fibers (e.g., fiberglass fibers, carbon fibers, polymeric fibers, ceramic fibers, metal fibers, etc.), reinforcing component(s) (e.g., metal component(s) molded into the polymeric material, etc.), other suitable component(s), or a combination thereof. The polymeric material may form an entirety of the surface area of the substrate, or the polymeric material may form a portion of the surface area of the substrate. The coating 116 (e.g., coating layer) is disposed on the polymeric material of the substrate 114, for example, to provide enhanced durability and/or lubricity, and/or to reduce maintenance operations. The coating 116 may include a metallic coating (e.g., metallic coating layer) and/or a ceramic coating (e.g., ceramic coating layer).

In certain embodiments, the metallic coating material may be sprayed and/or electroplated onto the substrate 114. For example, the polymeric substrate 114 may be cleaned and, in some embodiments, chemically and/or mechanically treated (e.g., sanded, etc.) to create rough surface(s), and then a metallic spray may be applied to the surface(s) of the substrate. The spray may be applied via arc spraying, flame spraying, another suitable technique, or a combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, surface(s) of the substrate 114 may be prepared for electroplating, such as by applying an acid (e.g., chromic acid) to the surface(s). A solution consisting of palladium and tin salts may then be applied to the surface(s). Next, the surface(s) of the polymeric substrate 114 may be coated with metal (e.g., nickel, copper, and so on) from an electroless plating solution. The palladium and tin salt solution serves as a catalyst for application of the nickel or copper. The metallic coating 116 may then be electroplated by an electroplating system. The coating may include each of the materials applied to the surface(s) of the substrate.