Agricultural row unit systems, methods, and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9807921-B2
Application number	US-201314437975-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2013
Priority date	Oct 24, 2012
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A row unit for an agricultural planter having features for releasably operably coupling a seed meter of the row unit to a seed deposition apparatus of the row unit such as a seed conveyor, seed tube or the like. Apparatus are provided for tipping a seed meter of the hopper for disengagement from the seed deposition apparatus. Apparatus are provided for biasing the seed deposition apparatus into operative engagement with the seed meter. The row unit includes features such as latches for releasably operably coupling the row unit to crop input and vacuum supply lines. Apparatus are provided for tipping a seed meter of the hopper for disengagement from the crop input and vacuum supply lines. Systems are provided for supplying vacuum and crop inputs to the seed meter via the releasably engageable apparatus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agricultural row unit for depositing seeds into a planting trench, comprising:
a row unit having a row unit frame;
a seed hopper pivotally mounted to the row unit frame, said seed hopper pivotable in a direction rearwardly away from a forward direction of travel of the row unit frame from a first position to a second position;
a seed meter in seed communication with said seed hopper; and
a seed conveyor configured to convey seeds from said seed meter to the planting trench;
wherein in said first position, said seed meter is in seed communication with said seed conveyor; and
wherein in said first position, said seed meter is in communication with a vacuum supply conduit; and
wherein in said second position, said seed meter is separated from said vacuum supply conduit.

2. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein in said second position, said seed meter is disposed to be removed from said seed hopper without contacting said seed conveyor.

3. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein in said first position, said seed conveyor is resiliently engaged with said seed meter.

4. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein in said first position, said seed conveyor is biased into contact with said seed meter.

5. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , further including:
a loading wheel, wherein said loading wheel urges seeds from said seed meter into said seed conveyor.

6. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said seed meter includes a meter alignment guide, wherein said seed conveyor includes a conveyor alignment guide, wherein said meter alignment guide is configured to engage said conveyor alignment guide, wherein said meter alignment guide is disposed to engage said conveyor alignment guide in said first position.

7. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a spring mounted to said row unit frame, said spring resiliently supporting said seed conveyor, wherein said spring biases said seed conveyor toward engagement with said seed meter.

8. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein in said first position, said seed hopper is in communication with a seed supply conduit, and wherein in said second position, said seed hopper is separated from said seed supply conduit.

9. A method for connecting an agricultural row unit to a seed supply, comprising:
mounting a seed meter to a pivot point on a frame of the row unit;
rotating said seed meter about said pivot point in a direction toward a forward direction of travel of the agricultural row unit until said seed meter is in a first position in which said seed meter is in seed communication with a seed conveyor associated with the row unit; and
conveying seeds from said seed meter.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
rotating said seed meter about said pivot point in a direction rearwardly away from a forward direction of travel of the row unit until said seed meter is in a second position in which said seed meter is not in seed communication with said seed conveyor, wherein in said second position, said seed meter is disposed to be removed from the row unit without contacting said seed conveyor.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein in said first position, said seed conveyor is resiliently engaged with said seed meter.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein in said first position, said seed conveyor is biased into contact with said seed meter.

13. The method of claim 9 , further including:
a loading wheel, wherein said loading wheel urges seeds from said seed meter into said seed conveyor.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein said seed meter includes a meter alignment guide, wherein said seed conveyor includes a conveyor alignment guide, wherein said meter alignment guide is configured to engage said conveyor alignment guide, wherein said meter alignment guide is disposed to engage said conveyor alignment guide in said first position.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
a spring mounted to said row unit, said spring resiliently supporting said seed conveyor, wherein said spring biases said seed conveyor toward engagement with said seed meter.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein in said first position, the row unit is in communication with a seed supply conduit, and wherein in said second position, the row unit is separated from said seed supply conduit.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein in said first position, the row unit is in communication with a vacuum supply conduit, and wherein in said second position, the row unit is separated from said vacuum supply conduit.

18. An agricultural row unit for depositing seeds into a planting trench, comprising:
a row unit having a row unit frame;
a seed hopper pivotally mounted to the row unit frame, said seed hopper pivotable in a direction rearwardly away from a forward direction of travel of the row unit frame a first position to a second position;
a seed meter in seed communication with said seed hopper; and
a seed conveyor configured to convey seeds from said seed meter to the trench;
wherein in said first position, said seed meter is in seed communication with said seed conveyor; and
wherein in said first position, said seed hopper is in communication with a seed supply conduit; and
wherein in said second position, said seed hopper is separated from said seed supply conduit.

19. The agricultural row unit of claim 18 , wherein in said second position, said seed meter is disposed to be removed from said seed hopper without contacting said seed conveyor.

20. The agricultural row unit of claim 18 , wherein in said first position, said seed conveyor is resiliently engaged with said seed meter.

21. The agricultural row unit of claim 18 , wherein in said first position, said seed conveyor is biased into contact with said seed meter.

22. The agricultural row unit of claim 18 , further including:
a loading wheel, wherein said loading wheel urges seeds from said seed meter into said seed conveyor.

23. The agricultural row unit of claim 18 , wherein said seed meter includes a meter alignment guide, wherein said seed conveyor includes a conveyor alignment guide, wherein said meter alignment guide is configured to engage said conveyor alignment guide, wherein said meter alignment guide is disposed to engage said conveyor alignment guide in said first position.

24. The agricultural row unit of claim 18 , further comprising:
a spring mounted to said row unit frame, said spring resiliently supporting said seed conveyor, wherein said spring biases said seed conveyor toward engagement with said seed meter.

25. The agricultural row unit of claim 18 , wherein in said first position, said seed meter is in communication with a vacuum supply conduit, and wherein in said second position, said seed meter is separated from said vacuum supply conduit.

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Levy Kent
• Hodel Jeremy
• Radtke Ian

Classifications

• A01C7/208 Primary

  Chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers · CPC title

• A01C7/127 Primary

  Cell rollers, wheels, discs or belts · CPC title

• A01C15/006

  Hoppers · CPC title

• A01C7/046

  with perforated seeding discs · CPC title