Systems and apparatuses for soil and seed monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11968922-B2
Application number	US-202016831770-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2020
Priority date	Oct 2, 2017
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

A soil apparatus (e.g., seed firmer) having a locking system is described herein. In one embodiment, the soil apparatus includes a lower base portion for engaging in soil of an agricultural field, an upper base portion, and a neck portion having protrusions to insert into the lower base portion of a base and then lock when a region of the upper base portion is inserted into the lower base portion and this region of the upper base portion presses the protrusions to lock the neck portion to the upper base portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A soil apparatus comprising:
a base portion to firm seed in a trench that is formed in soil of an agricultural field, and the base portion is adapted for connection to an agricultural implement; wherein the base portion comprises:
an upper base portion;
a lower internal portion disposed below the upper base portion to provide structural support to the soil apparatus and to house a circuit board having sensors;
a lower outer portion that is a component to enclose the lower internal portion without being disposed over a separate removable lower engaging portion having a transparent window of the base portion to allow transmission of wavelengths of light from sensors through the transparent window to measure soil characteristics of the soil; and wherein the lower outer portion has first and second sides with the first side including an opening for the separate removable lower engaging portion.

2. The soil apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a neck portion attached to an end of the lower internal portion, the neck portion configured to attach to the agricultural implement.

3. The soil apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower outer portion comprises an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

4. The soil apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower outer portion is at least 50% of a height of the base portion.

5. The soil apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower outer portion is at least 90% of a height of the base portion.

6. The soil apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower outer portion is made from the material such that the coefficient of static friction between the material and soil is less than or equal to 0.2.

7. The soil apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower outer portion contacts the upper base portion at a common seam.

8. The soil apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower outer portion further comprises a bottom side, wherein the first side and the bottom side include the opening for the separate removable lower engaging portion.

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Strnad Michael
• Kater Timothy
• Koch Dale M
• Minarich Nicholas
• Litwiller Riley

Classifications

• A01C21/00

  Methods of fertilising {, sowing or planting} · CPC title

• A01C14/00

  Methods or apparatus for planting not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• A01C7/205

  comprising pressure regulation means · CPC title

• A01C7/201

  Mounting of the seeding tools · CPC title

• A01B61/042

  with shearing devices · CPC title