Seeding system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9814173-B2
Application number	US-201514871653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A seeding system includes a storage tank operable to store a plurality of seeds and a dispersion unit configured to disperse some of the plurality of seeds amongst a plurality of conduits. The dispersion unit includes a sensor. A meter is operable to transfer the some of the plurality of seeds from the storage tank to the dispersion unit. The sensor is operable to produce a signal to control the transfer from the storage tank to the dispersion unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seeding system comprising:
a storage tank operable to store a plurality of seeds;
a dispersion unit configured to disperse some of the plurality of seeds from the dispersion unit amongst a plurality of conduits, the dispersion unit including a sensor; and
a meter operable to transfer the some of the plurality of seeds from the storage tank to the dispersion unit,
wherein the sensor is operable to produce a signal to control the transfer from the storage tank to the dispersion unit.

2. The seeding system of claim 1 , further comprising a gate operable to transition between an open position and a closed position in response to a signal from the sensor, wherein in the closed position the gate restricts the transfer of seeds from the storage tank to the dispersion unit.

3. The seeding system of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor and further comprising a second sensor, wherein the gate is operable to transition to the open position in response to a signal from the second sensor.

4. The seeding system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fan configured to produce an air current upstream of the dispersion unit to transfer seeds from the meter to the dispersion unit; and
a container associated with one of the plurality of conduits and configured to receive the seeds dispersed to the one of the plurality of conduits,
wherein the container includes at least one orifice sized to prohibit seed passage through the at least one orifice, and
wherein, when not obstructed by a portion of the seeds dispersed to the one of the plurality of conduits, the at least one orifice is operable as an outlet for the air current from the fan.

5. The seeding system of claim 4 , wherein, when obstructed by a portion of the seeds dispersed through the one of the plurality of conduits, the at least one orifice is operable to limit or reduce the air current from the fan through the one of the plurality of conduits.

6. The seeding system of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of conduits is configured to pass seed to a singulating meter.

7. A seeding system comprising:
a dispersion unit configured to disperse a plurality of seeds amongst a plurality of seed conduits, the dispersion unit comprising a container having an inlet for the plurality of seeds and an air current, at least one seed outlet, and an air outlet distinct from the at least one seed outlet;
a single fan located upstream of the inlet of the dispersion unit and operable to provide the air current to the inlet of the dispersion unit; and
a seed channel with a first end and a second end, the channel configured to receive a portion of the plurality of seeds from the at least one seed outlet,
wherein the first end is configured to receive the air current from the air outlet, and
wherein the second end is configured to deliver the portion of the plurality of seeds and a portion of the air current to a singulating meter.

8. The seeding system of claim 7 , wherein the air current which conveys the plurality of seeds through the inlet of the container is configured to convey the plurality of seeds through the second end of the seed channel.

9. The seeding system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a sensor located within the container;
a meter operable to transfer the plurality of seeds from a storage tank to the dispersion unit; and
a gate operable to transition between an open position and a closed position in response to a signal from the sensor, wherein in the closed position the gate restricts the transfer of seeds from the storage tank to the dispersion unit.

10. The seeding system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a storage tank operable to store the plurality of seeds upstream of the dispersion unit; and
a second storage tank operable to store an amount of fertilizer,
wherein the single fan is operable to provide an air current to transfer some of the amount of fertilizer.

11. The seeding system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a second container associated with one of the plurality of seed conduits and configured to receive the seeds dispersed to the one of the plurality of seed conduits, wherein the container includes at least one orifice sized to prohibit seed passage through the at least one orifice,
wherein, when not obstructed by a portion of the seeds dispersed to the one of the plurality of conduits, the at least one orifice is operable as an outlet for the air current from the fan.

12. The seeding system of claim 11 , wherein, when obstructed by a portion of the seeds dispersed to the one of the plurality of conduits, the at least one orifice is operable to limit or reduce the air current from the fan.

13. A seeding system comprising:
a first storage tank for holding a plurality of seeds;
a second storage tank for holding a quantity of fertilizer;
a plurality of singulating meters, each operable to meter some of the plurality of seeds from the first storage tank;
a first path operable to deliver a first portion of the plurality of seeds from the first storage tank to one of the plurality of singulating meters via a first dispersion unit, the first dispersion unit including a sensor configured to sense a relative quantity of seed within the first dispersion unit; and
a second path operable to deliver a portion of the quantity of fertilizer from the second storage tank to the ground via a second dispersion unit,
wherein the second path is configured to bypass the one of the plurality of singulating meters.

14. The seeding system of claim 13 , further comprising a third storage tank for holding a second quantity of fertilizer and a third path operable to deliver a portion of the second quantity of fertilizer from the third tank to the ground via a third dispersion unit.

15. The seeding system of claim 14 , wherein the first path and the second path are in fluid communication with a first fan, and wherein the third path is in fluid communication with a second fan.

16. The seeding system of claim 13 , further comprising a fan, wherein the first path and the second path are operable to deliver the first portion of the plurality of seeds and the portion of the quantity of fertilizer via an air current from the fan.

17. The seeding system of claim 13 , further comprising a first volumetric meter and a second volumetric meter, wherein the first volumetric meter is operable to meter the first portion of the plurality of seeds and the second volumetric meter is operable to meter the portion of the quantity of fertilizer.

18. A seeding system comprising:
a first storage tank for holding a plurality of seeds;
a second storage tank for holding a quantity of fertilizer;
a plurality of singulating meters, each operable to meter some of the plurality of seeds from the first storage tank;
a first path operable to deliver a first portion of the plurality of seeds from the first storage tank to a point downstream of a second dispersion unit; and
a second path operable to deliver a portion of the quantity of fertilizer from the second storage tank to the ground via the second dispersion unit,
wherein the first path is in communication with the second path at the point downstream of the second dispersion unit.

19. The seeding system of claim 18 , wherein the first path is configured to bypass the plurality of singulating meters.

20. The seeding system of claim 18 , further including a first dispersion unit within the first path, the first dispersion unit including a sensor configured to sense a relative quantity of see

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Frasier Michael E
• Mccartney Scott C

Classifications

• A01C15/04

  using blowers · CPC title

• A01C7/102

  Regulating or controlling the seed rate · CPC title

• A01C7/081

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/084

  Pneumatic distribution heads for seeders · CPC title

• A01C7/06 Primary

  Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus · CPC title