Row unit for a seeding machine with pneumatic seed loading

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11297762-B2
Application number	US-201815888868-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2018
Priority date	Feb 5, 2018
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

A row unit for a seeding machine includes a seed reservoir and a seed meter having a metering member with a seed side facing the seed reservoir, a non-seed side opposite the seed side, and a plurality of apertures. 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. A conduit has a venturi with a throat disposed adjacent the metering member. The throat presents an opening directed toward the seed side and the plurality of apertures. The opening is configured to receive a seed adhered to one aperture of the plurality of apertures. An air pressure source is configured to provide greater than atmospheric air pressure on the non-seed side such that during operation of the row unit an air stream passes through the one aperture toward the opening.

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 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 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 conduit having a venturi with a throat disposed adjacent the metering member, the throat presenting an opening directed toward the seed side and the plurality of apertures, the opening configured to receive a seed adhered to one aperture of the plurality of apertures; and
an air pressure source configured to provide greater than atmospheric air pressure on the non-seed side such that during operation of the row unit an air stream passes through the one aperture toward the opening.

2. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is fluidly coupled to the air pressure source.

3. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the air pressure source is a first air pressure source, and wherein the conduit is fluidly coupled to a second air pressure source.

4. The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
an outlet for discharging the seeds; and
an air brake disposed proximate the outlet for reducing an air speed from the outlet.

5. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein an outlet for discharging the seeds is disposed at a furrow in the soil for directing seeds into the furrow, the row unit further comprising a press wheel disposed proximate the outlet for pressing the seeds into the furrow.

6. 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 provide a lower than atmospheric pressure on a portion of the non-seed side, wherein an air pressure source for the conduit is the outlet side of the blower.

7. The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle disposed on the non-seed side of the metering member and configured to focus the greater than atmospheric air pressure towards the one aperture.

8. The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle disposed on the non-seed side of the metering member and configured to focus the greater than atmospheric air pressure through the one aperture, wherein the nozzle is rotatably mounted.

9. The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising a wheel in fluid communication with the air pressure source, the wheel including a rotatably mounted hub having a plurality of nozzles projecting therefrom, each nozzle configured to focus the greater than atmospheric air.

10. The row unit of claim 9 , wherein the hub is configured to be driven by meshing of the plurality of nozzles with the metering disk.

11. The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising a fixed blade positioned to mechanically guide the seeds from the metering member into the opening.

12. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the metering member is a first metering member, and wherein the seed meter assembly further includes a second metering member, the conduit being disposed between the first and second metering members.

13. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the seed meter is a vacuum seed meter including a blower configured to provide a lower than atmospheric pressure region on a first portion of the metering member, a second portion of the metering member being disposed circumferentially adjacent the lower than atmospheric pressure region, the opening being disposed adjacent the second portion of the metering member.

14. A row unit for a seeding machine, the row unit comprising:
a seed reservoir;
a seed meter including a 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 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 venturi with a throat disposed adjacent the metering member, the throat presenting an opening directed toward the seed side and the plurality of apertures, the opening configured to receive a seed adhered to one aperture of the plurality of apertures; and
a source of air at greater than atmospheric pressure, the source configured to generate an air flow from the non-seed side through the one aperture toward the opening, such that the seed is directed away from the metering member and into the opening.

15. The row unit of claim 14 , wherein the venturi is in fluid communication with the source of air.

16. The row unit of claim 14 , wherein the source of air is a first source of air, and wherein the venturi is in fluid communication with a second source of air.

17. The row unit of claim 14 , wherein the air flow travels through a conduit.

18. The row unit of claim 17 , wherein a nozzle is fluidly coupled to the conduit and disposed on the non-seed side.

19. 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:
generating a pressure differential across at least some of the plurality of apertures for adhering seeds to the metering member;
directing air through a venturi having a throat and an opening adjacent the seed side of the metering member for receiving seeds from the metering member; and
directing air from the non-seed side through one aperture of the plurality of apertures to transfer a seed away from the metering member and into the opening.

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