Row unit for a seeding machine with pneumatic seed loading

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10820489-B2
Application number	US-201815888912-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2018
Priority date	Feb 5, 2018
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A row unit for a seeding machine includes a seed reservoir and a seed meter having a metering member configured to rotate about an axis. The metering member has a seed side facing the seed reservoir, a non-seed side opposite the seed side, and a plurality of apertures. The axis is normal to a surface of the seed side. The seed meter is operable by pressure differential between the non-seed side and the seed side to adhere seeds to the seed side and move seeds from the seed reservoir. The row unit also includes a positive pressure air source and an air outlet fluidly coupled to the positive pressure air source. The air outlet is disposed on the seed side and aimed to discharge an air stream towards one aperture of the plurality of apertures. The dischargeable air stream has a directional component parallel to the axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A row unit for a seeding machine, the row unit comprising:
a seed reservoir;
a seed meter including a metering member configured to rotate about an axis, the metering member having a seed side facing the seed reservoir, a non-seed side opposite the seed side, and a plurality of apertures extending from the seed side to the non-seed side, wherein the axis is normal to a surface of the seed side, the seed meter operable by pressure differential between the non-seed side and the seed side to adhere seeds to the seed side and move seeds from the seed reservoir;
a positive pressure air source; and
an air outlet fluidly coupled to the positive pressure air source, the air outlet disposed on the seed side and aimed to discharge an air stream towards one aperture of the plurality of apertures, the dischargeable air stream having a directional component parallel to the axis.

2. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the air outlet includes a nozzle for concentrating the air stream.

3. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the air outlet includes an air knife having an opening for discharging the air stream, the opening being elongated in a direction transverse to the dischargeable air stream.

4. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the positive pressure air source includes a blower, and wherein the blower also is configured to generate the pressure differential.

5. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the seed meter is a vacuum seed meter including a blower having an intake side and an outlet side, the intake side configured to generate a lower than atmospheric pressure on a portion of the non-seed side, wherein the positive pressure air source is the outlet side of the blower.

6. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the seed meter includes a housing partially defining a chamber for containing the pressure differential, wherein the seed meter further includes a region disposed immediately adjacent the chamber in a circumferential direction with respect to the axis, the region not under the influence of the pressure differential, wherein the air outlet is aimed towards the region immediately adjacent the chamber in the circumferential direction.

7. The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum source configured to generate the pressure differential.

8. The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising a seed tube configured to direct the seeds from the metering member to a seed outlet, wherein the air outlet is configured to dislodge the seeds from the metering member into the seed tube.

9. The row unit of claim 8 , further comprising an air brake disposed proximate the seed outlet for reducing an air speed at the seed outlet.

10. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the metering member is a first metering member, the axis is a first axis, the surface is a first surface, and the seed side is the first seed side, wherein the seed meter further includes a second metering member rotatable about a second axis and having a second seed side, the second axis being generally normal to a second surface of the second seed side, wherein the air outlet is a first air outlet, the row unit further comprising a second air outlet fluidly coupled to the positive pressure air source, the second air outlet disposed on the second seed side and aimed to discharge another air stream towards the second surface, the dischargeable other air stream having a directional component parallel to the second axis.

11. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the seed meter includes a housing defining a chamber for containing the pressure differential, wherein the seed meter further includes a region disposed immediately adjacent the chamber in a circumferential direction with respect to the axis, the region not under the influence of the pressure differential, wherein the air outlet includes a nozzle aimed towards the region immediately adjacent the chamber.

12. A method for displacing seeds from a metering member in a seeding machine, the seeding machine having a seed reservoir, a seed meter assembly including the metering member having a seed side facing the seed reservoir, a non-seed side opposite the seed side, and a plurality of apertures extending from the seed side to the non-seed side, the metering member operable to selectively transport seeds from the seed reservoir, the method comprising:
rotating the metering member about an axis normal to a surface of the seed side;
generating a pressure differential across at least some apertures of the plurality of apertures for adhering seeds to the metering member; and
directing an air stream at the seed side and towards one aperture of the plurality of apertures, the air stream having a directional component parallel to the axis.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the directing includes using a nozzle to concentrate the air stream.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the directing includes using an air knife with an opening elongated in a direction transverse to the air stream to direct the air stream.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising using a pump to generate the pressure differential and to provide the air stream.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein generating the pressure differential includes generating a vacuum on the non-seed side.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising using a blower having an inlet side and an outlet side, generating the vacuum at the inlet side, and generating the air stream at the outlet side.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising using a blower to generate the air stream and generating the pressure differential using the blower.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing a housing defining a chamber for containing the pressure differential, directing the air stream with a nozzle aimed towards a region disposed immediately adjacent the chamber in a circumferential direction with respect to the axis, the region not under the influence of the pressure differential.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Garner Elijah B
• Borkgren Stanley R
• Hubner Cary S
• Wolfs Beth A
• Frasier Michael E
• Migliorini Joseph W

Classifications

• A01C7/0445

  Seed ejectors · CPC title

• A01C7/046 Primary

  with perforated seeding discs · CPC title

• A01C7/20 Primary

  Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed · CPC title

• A01C7/206

  Seed pipes · CPC title