Seed Meter with Seed Retaining Structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025040471-A1
Application number	US-202218691180-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2022
Priority date	Oct 14, 2021
Publication date	Feb 6, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A seed meter (100) includes a housing (110) and a cover (112). A seed disc (130) is rotatably disposed between the housing (110) and the cover (112). The housing (110) includes a seed pool area (114) and a seed exit chute (104) separated by a generally vertical brush (212) on a seed-side of the seed disc (130). A seed retaining structure (200) disposed on the seed-side of the seed disc (130) within the housing (110) prevents the seed within the seed pool area (114) from passing over the generally vertical brush (212) from the seed pool area (114) into the seed exit chute (104) when the seed meter (100) is tilted or rotated.

First claim

1 . A seed meter, comprising:
a housing defining a seed inlet chute, a seed exit chute and a seed pool area, the seed inlet chute adapted to receive seed from a seed supply, the housing having an opening through which the seed passes from the seed inlet chute to the seed pool area; a cover removably attached to the housing, the cover including a vacuum port adapted to be in communication with a vacuum source; a seed disc rotatably disposed between the housing and the cover, the seed disc having a seed-side toward the housing and a vacuum-side toward the cover, the seed disc having a plurality of apertures adapted to carry the seeds from the seed pool area to the seed exit chute as the seed disc rotates when a vacuum is applied on the vacuum-side of the seed disc by the vacuum source via the vacuum port; a generally vertical brush disposed on the seed-side of the seed disc within the housing, the generally vertical brush separating the seed exit chute from the seed pool area; a seed retaining structure disposed on the seed-side of the seed disc within the housing, the seed retaining structure disposed to prevent the seed within the seed pool area from passing over the generally vertical brush from the seed pool area into the seed exit chute.

2 . The seed meter of claim 1 , wherein the seed retaining structure includes a brush disposed generally transverse to the generally vertical brush.

3 . The seed meter of claim 2 , wherein the seed retaining structure defines a seed passage adjacent to the generally vertical brush, the seed retaining structure further including a flap, the flap disposed to swing by force of gravity between a generally vertical open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position, the seed passage is closed by the flap preventing the seed from passing through the seed passage from the seed pool into the seed exit chute.

4 . The seed meter of claim 1 , further including a baffle member disposed on the seed-side of the seed disc within the housing, the baffle member movable between selectable positions to regulate the seed entering the seed pool area from the seed inlet chute through the opening.

5 . The seed meter of claim 3 , further including a baffle member disposed on the seed-side of the seed disc within the housing, the baffle member movable between selectable positions to regulate the seed entering the seed pool area from the seed inlet chute through the opening.

6 . The seed meter of claim 5 , wherein the seed retaining structure is supported on the baffle member such that the seed retaining structure is movable together with the baffle member between the selectable positions.

7 . The seed meter of claim 5 , wherein a portion of the brush comprising the seed retaining structure is supported on the baffle member such that the portion of the brush is movable together with the baffle member between the selectable positions.

8 . The seed meter of claim 2 , wherein the brush includes a first brush portion and a second brush portion disposed at an angle with respect to one another.

9 . The seed meter of claim 2 , wherein the first brush portion and second brush portion are disposed at an angle with respect to one another forming an upward apex.

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Schwind Timothy
• Frank William
• Stuber Luke

Classifications

• A01C7/046 Primary

  with perforated seeding discs · CPC title

• A01C7/0443 Primary

  Seed singulators · CPC title