Air seed meter disc with flow directing pockets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9282691-B2
Application number	US-201313829726-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Oct 23, 2012
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

A seed metering system, for use on a row crop planter, selects individual seeds from a seed reservoir and dispenses the seeds singularly at a controlled rate. A direct drive seed metering system includes a seed disc having a plurality of suction apertures with a recessed pocket adjacent to an aperture. The recessed pockets act to agitate seeds in the seed reservoir and to direct seed flow towards the apertures. A seed path relief system provides for allowing the placement of the seeds such that they are released from an outer edge of the seed disc. An adjustable seed singulator is mounted adjacent to the face of the seed disc where inner and outer blades are adjusted radially to compensate for the singulation of various seed sizes and shapes. The seed disc is driven via engagement of an internal gear with the external gear of an independent drive motor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air seed meter for an agricultural planter, comprising:
a housing defining a seed reservoir, a discharge chute, and a vacuum chamber; and
a seed disc mounted in said housing for rotation about an axis and having a plurality of seed cells spaced radially about the axis for retaining seeds, said disc having channels adjacent to each respective seed cell;
said seed cells and channels positioned at a raised surface of the seed disc relative to an inner or outer radially spaced surface of the disc.

2. The air seed meter of claim 1 wherein each respective channel is substantially inside of the seed cells and each channel being forward of each corresponding seed cell with respect to the rotational direction of the disc.

3. The air seed meter of claim 2 wherein each respective channel has a length greater than a width of the channel.

4. The air seed meter of claim 2 wherein each respective channel is oriented on the seed disc such that the length of the channel is at an oblique angle to a radius line of the channel's corresponding seed cell such that the inner forward corner of the channel leads the outer forward corner with respect to the direction of rotation.

5. The air seed meter of claim 4 wherein a face of the channel is tangential to the forward inner edge of the seed cell.

6. The air seed meter of claim 1 Wherein the seed disc comprises a flanged portion between an inner lip and an outer chamfer, and wherein the raised surface located on the flanged portion.

7. The air seed meter of claim 6 wherein the seed s comprise apertures through the flanged portion of the seed disc.

8. The air seed meter of claim 6 wherein the channels comprise recessed portions of the flanged portion of the seed disc.

9. The air seed meter of claim 8 wherein the channels comprise a ramped portion forward of and adjacent the seed cell and configured to aid in directing a seed to the seed cell during rotation of the seed disc.

10. The air seed meter of claim 8 wherein the seed disc further comprises an extension surface from the outer chamfer to an annular rim, wherein the annular rim includes a lip extending away from the flanged portion.

11. A seed disc fhr use with an air seed meter of an agricultural implement, comprising:
a cylindrical structure having first and second sides and containing a plurality of apertures therethrough, said apertures being arranged in a radial array a distance from an axis of the cylindrical structure;
a plurality of channels arranged in a radial array on a raised surface positioned about the axis of the cylindrical structure on the first side of the structure such that a respective channel is substantially radially inward and forward of a corresponding aperture; and
a central cylindrical aperture therein for mounting to said seed meter.

12. The seed disc of claim 11 wherein the first side of the cylindrical structure comprises a flanged portion between an inner lip and an outer chamfer, and wherein the raised surface is on the flanged portion.

13. The seed disc of claim 12 wherein the apertures are positioned through the flanged portion of the cylindrical structure.

14. The seed disc of claim 12 wherein the channels comprise recessed portions of the flanged portion of the cylindrical structure.

15. The seed disc of claim 14 wherein the channels comprise a ramped portion forward of and adjacent the seed cell and configured to aid in directing a seed to the seed cell during rotation of the cylindrical structure.

16. The seed disc of claim 14 wherein the cylindrical structure further comprises an extension surface from the outer chamfer to an annular rim, wherein the annular rim includes a lip extending away from the flanged portion.

17. The seed disc of claim 11 further comprising an inward facing annular gear positioned about the central cylindrical aperture.

18. An air seed meter for an agricultural planter, comprising:
a seed disc housed between a seed meter housing and a vacuum housing;
said seed disc comprising a substantially circular member having a first side adjacent the seed meter housing and a second side adjacent the vacuum housing, and a plurality of apertures through the disc and spaced radially a distance from an axis of the substantially circular member; and
said first side of the circular member comprising a plurality of channels arranged in a radial array about the axis of the substantially circular member such that a respective channel is substantially radially inward and forward of a corresponding aperture;
said seed cells and channels positioned at a raised surface of the seed disc relative to an inner or outer radially spaced surface of the disc; and
wherein the channels are configured to move seed adjacent the channel and to an aperture for retention until release therefrom.

19. The seed disc of claim 18 wherein the first side of the cylindrical structure further comprises a flanged portion between an inner lip and an outer chamfer, and wherein the raised surface is on the flanged portion.

20. The seed disc of claim 19 wherein the channels comprise recessed portions of the flanged portion of the cylindrical structure.

Assignees

• Kinze Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Wilhelmi Matthew J
• Brockmann Kale J

Classifications

• A01C7/121 Primary

  for sowing seeds of different sizes · CPC title

• A01C7/04 Primary

  Single-grain seeders with or without suction devices · CPC title

• A01C7/125

  with bottom delivery of the seeds · CPC title

• A01C19/02

  by a motor · CPC title

• A01C7/08

  Broadcast seeders; Seeders depositing seeds in rows · CPC title