Crop input variety selection systems, methods, and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9237687-B2
Application number	US-201514710563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2015
Priority date	Jun 21, 2013
Publication date	Jan 19, 2016
Grant date	Jan 19, 2016

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for selecting an agricultural input. First and second seed meters selectively meter seed from first and second sources, respectively, into a common planting trench. In some embodiments the seed meters are selectively operated by electric motors controlled with reference to a seed type prescription. In some embodiments the first and second seed meters deposit seeds along a common plane.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A row unit for an agricultural seed planter, comprising:
a first seed meter having a first seed meter disc rotating around a first seed meter axis of rotation; and
a second seed meter having a second seed meter disc rotating around a second seed meter axis of rotation;
wherein said row unit is moved in a row unit direction of travel;
wherein a first seed metered by said first seed meter disc exits said first seed meter at a position ahead of said first seed meter axis of rotation in said row unit direction of travel;
wherein a second seed metered by said second seed meter disc exits said second seed meter at a position behind said second seed meter axis of rotation in said row unit direction of travel; and
wherein said first seed meter axis of rotation and said second seed meter axis of rotation are oriented perpendicularly to said row unit direction of travel, and wherein said first seed meter disc rotates clockwise around said first seed meter axis of rotation and said second seed meter disc rotates counterclockwise around said second seed meter axis of rotation.

2. The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a seed tube receiving said first seed metered directly from said first seed meter and receiving said second seed metered directly from said second seed meter and directing said first seed and said second seed to a seed release location, wherein a metering rate of at least one of said first seed meter and said second seed meter is controlled by an electric motor.

3. The row unit of claim 1 wherein said first seed metered by said first seed meter disc and said second seed metered by said second seed meter disc are directed by a seed tube to a seed release location.

4. The row unit of claim 1 wherein said first seed metered by said first seed meter disc and said second seed metered by said second seed meter disc are directed by a seed conveyance device to a seed release location.

5. A seed variety selection system for a row unit for an agricultural seed planter, comprising:
a first seed meter controllable to initiate metering and cease metering a first seed using a first electric motor;
a second seed meter controllable to initiate metering and cease metering a second seed using a second electric motor; and
a seed conveyance device directly receiving at least one of said first seed from said first seed meter and said second seed from said second seed meter and directing said first seed and said second seed to a seed release location;
wherein said first electric motor and said second electric motor are independently controllable.

6. The seed variety selection system of claim 5 wherein said seed conveyance device includes at least one seed channel.

7. The seed variety selection system of claim 5 wherein said first seed meter and said second seed meter meter seed at different rates.

8. The seed variety selection system of claim 5 wherein said seed conveyance device receives said first seed at a first time and receives said second seed at a second, different time.

9. The seed variety selection system of claim 5 wherein the operation of said first seed meter is independently initiated from said second seed meter.

10. The row unit of claim 5 , further comprising:
a first bulk seed tank in fluid communication with said first seed meter via a first pneumatic line;
a second bulk seed tank in fluid communication with said second seed meter via a second pneumatic line;
wherein pressurized air impels said first seed from said first bulk seed tank to said first seed meter via said first pneumatic line and wherein pressurized air impels said second seed from said second bulk seed tank to said second seed meter via said second pneumatic line.

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Sauder Derek
• Koch Dale
• Plattner Troy

Classifications

• A01C15/006

  Hoppers · CPC title

• A01C7/082

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

• A01C7/081

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/206

  Seed pipes · CPC title

• A01C7/18 Primary

  Machines for depositing quantities of seed at intervals · CPC title