Planter with seed delivery apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9756779-B2
Application number	US-201514619758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2015
Priority date	Feb 11, 2014
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

An agricultural implement is provided that includes a number of row units. The row units include one or more seed meters for receiving, singulating, and dispensing seed to the ground such that preferred spacing of subsequent seed is attained. Seed delivery systems are included to aid in transporting the seed from the seed meter to the ground in a controlled manner to mitigate skips and to aid in controlling the spacing of the seeds, which can be based upon the ground speed of the implement as it moves through the field. The seed delivery systems can control the transport of the seed to a furrow in the field such that the seed can experience zero or near zero relative velocity so that the seed will have little to no movement once positioned in the furrow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A row unit for use with an agricultural implement, comprising:
at least one air seed meter comprising a seed disc and a seed exit and providing air to hold a seed at a location on the seed disc; and
a seed delivery system for transporting seed from the seed meter to a furrow in the ground, the seed delivery system comprising:
an elongated seed tube operatively connected to the seed meter;
a resilient member enclosed in a housing for receiving seed from the seed tube and transporting seed at least partially between the housing and the resilient member to discharge the seed towards the furrow, said housing connected to an end of the elongated seed tube away from the seed meter; and
wherein an excess amount of air from the seed meter for holding the seed at the location on the seed disc pushes the seed in a generally downward direction towards the resilient member such that a combination of the excess air and the seed travels the elongated seed tube and said air being released from said housing adjacent to the resilient member such that the seed is released from the movement of the resilient member.

2. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member comprises a substantially circular member positioned in the housing.

3. The row unit of claim 2 , wherein the rotational velocity of the resilient member is controllable.

4. The row unit of claim 3 , wherein the rotational velocity of the resilient member is determinative on the ground speed of the row unit.

5. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the seed meter comprises a seed chute for receiving seed released from the seed disc and positioned adjacent an opening of the seed tube.

6. The row unit of claim 5 , wherein housing of the seed delivery system comprises a neck extending from the housing to the seed tube.

7. The row unit of claim 6 , wherein air used in the seed meter is used to direct the seed toward and through the seed delivery system.

8. The row unit of claim 7 , wherein the neck comprises an exhaust for allowing the air to pass to slow down the movement of the seed before reaching the resilient member of the seed delivery system.

9. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is a wheel comprising foam or rubber.

10. The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising first and second seed meters on the row unit and configured to dispense seed into a common seed tube.

11. A row unit for use with an agricultural implement, comprising:
at least one seed meter comprising a seed disc and a seed exit and providing air to hold a seed at a location on the seed disc; and
a seed delivery system for transporting seed from the seed meter to a furrow in the ground, the seed delivery system comprising:
a resilient member at least partially in a housing for receiving seed from the seed meter and transporting seed at least partially between the housing and the resilient member to discharge the seed towards the furrow;
said housing comprising an attachment portion, said attachment portion oriented perpendicular to the furrow;
a vented portion comprising a plurality of apertures in the attachment portion;
said seed meter positioned adjacent the resilient member such that the seed experiences a short drop after being released from the seed disc to contacting the resilient member; and
wherein an excess amount of air from the seed meter for holding the seed at the location on the seed disc pushes the seed in a generally downward direction with a combination of the excess air and the seed moving through the attachment portion towards the resilient member and at least some of said air being released from said housing prior to the seed contacting the resilient member such that the seed is released from the movement of the resilient member.

12. The row unit of claim 11 , wherein the resilient member comprises a substantially circular member with a controllable rotational velocity.

13. The row unit of claim 11 , further comprising a neck between the seed meter and the resilient member for exhausting air from the seed meter to slow the seed before contacting the resilient member.

14. The row unit of claim 11 , wherein the resilient member is a wheel comprising foam or rubber.

Assignees

• Kinze Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Wilhelmi Matthew J
• Bachman Marvin
• Hahn Dustan
• Myers Michael J
• Stevenson Vaughan
• Blackwell Robert
• Achen Courtney N

Classifications

• A01C7/20 Primary

  Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed · CPC title

• A01C7/18

  Machines for depositing quantities of seed at intervals · CPC title

• A01C7/206

  Seed pipes · CPC title

• A01C7/046 Primary

  with perforated seeding discs · CPC title

• A01C7/0443

  Seed singulators · CPC title