Multiple variety seed meter of a planter for planting multiple seed varieties

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11357164-B2
Application number	US-201916591945-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2019
Priority date	Aug 16, 2017
Publication date	Jun 14, 2022
Grant date	Jun 14, 2022

Abstract

A multiple variety seed meter for multi-variety row crop planting a segmented feed pipe system that may include a feed pipe with multiple passages that can be rotated to present one of multiple variety openings toward a seed pool in the seed meter to deliver a specific seed variety into the seed meter. The feed pipe may be an inner selector pipe concentrically nested for rotation in an outer sleeve that extends into the seed meter.

First claim

We claim:

1. A multiple variety seed meter of a planter for planting multiple seed varieties in a single planting pass during row-crop planting of an agricultural field, wherein the multiple seed varieties are stored in multiple seed storage compartments on the planter, the multiple variety seed meter comprising:
a seed meter housing arranged at a row unit of a planter and defining an enclosure that surrounds a housing cavity that can receive seed to define a seed pool;
a seed disk arranged within the housing cavity and configured to pick up seed from the seed pool at a seed pickup region for singulation of seeds from the seed pool for individual delivery onto the agricultural field while planting;
a segmented feed pipe system that extends between the seed meter housing and the multiple seed storage compartments; the segmented feed pipe system comprising:
an outer sleeve that extends from the seed meter housing, the outer sleeve including:
an outer sleeve inlet end with a first sleeve inlet port arranged to receive a first seed variety from a first one of the multiple seed storage compartments and a second sleeve inlet port arranged to receive a second seed variety from a second one of the multiple seed storage compartments;

an inner selector pipe arranged for rotation within the outer sleeve, the inner selector pipe including:
an inner selector pipe inlet end with a first selector pipe inlet port arranged to receive the first seed variety and a second selector pipe inlet port arranged to receive the second seed variety; and

wherein rotation of the inner selector pipe within the outer sleeve can selectively align the first selector pipe inlet port with the first outer sleeve inlet port to allow the first seed variety to flow through the segmented feed pipe system and into the seed pool for planting the first seed variety and align the second selector pipe inlet port with the second outer sleeve inlet port to allow the second seed variety to flow through the segmented feed pipe system and into the seed pool for planting the second seed variety.

2. The multiple variety seed meter of claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve includes a sleeve outlet end with a sleeve outlet port arranged in the housing cavity to define a sump inlet through which seed can be delivered into the seed pool, and wherein the inner selector pipe includes a selector pipe outlet end with a first selector pipe outlet port and a second selector pipe outlet port arranged at the outlet end and arranged so that rotation of the selector pipe can selectively align the first and second selector pipe outlet ports with the sleeve outlet port for respectively delivering the first and second seed varieties into the housing cavity through the sump inlet.

3. The multiple variety seed meter of claim 2 , wherein the inner selector pipe includes,
a first seed delivery passage extending between the first selector pipe inlet port and the first selector pipe outlet port for delivering the first seed variety through the segmented feed pipe system; and
a second seed delivery passage extending between the second selector pipe inlet port and the second selector pipe outlet port for delivering the second seed variety through the segmented feed pipe system.

4. A multiple variety planter for planting multiple seed varieties in a single planting pass during row-crop planting of an agricultural field, the multiple variety planter comprising:
a frame;
multiple seed storage compartments supported by the frame for respectively storing multiple seed varieties;
multiple row units supported by the frame with each of the row units comprising:
a seed meter for singulating seed to be planted, the seed meter defining a seed pickup region inside the seed meter;
a segmented feed pipe system arranged between the seed meter and the multiple seed storage compartments; the segmented feed pipe system comprising:
a feed pipe with multiple passages that respectively receive the multiple seed varieties from the multiple seed storage compartments, wherein the feed pipe is rotatable and includes multiple variety outlets each of which can be rotated during rotation of the feed pipe to deliver seed to the seed pickup region inside the seed meter; and
a seed diverter system arranged to drive rotation of the feed pipe for presenting one of the multiple variety outlets of the feed pipe to deliver the corresponding seed variety to the seed pickup region inside the seed meter.

5. The multiple variety planter of claim 4 , wherein the segmented feed pipe system comprises an outer sleeve and the feed pipe defines an inner selector pipe with multiple seed delivery passages for respectively directing the multiple seed varieties through the inner selector pipe toward the multiple variety outlets.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind American Llc
• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Schoeny Christopher
• Johnson Chad

Classifications

• A01C7/046

  with perforated seeding discs · CPC title

• A01C21/005 Primary

  Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern · CPC title

• A01C7/082 Primary

  Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders · CPC title

• A01C7/10

  Devices for adjusting the seed-box {; Regulation of machines for depositing quantities at intervals} · CPC title

• A01C15/006

  Hoppers · CPC title