Singulation-style seeding system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9974221-B2
Application number	US-201615215766-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A singulation-style seeding system includes planter row units arranged on a drill that may have a front rank and a back rank. The planter units may singulate and deliver seeds from a first segment of the drill, which may correspond to one of the front and back ranks. A high-volume fertilizer may be delivered from a second segment of the drill, which may correspond to the other one of the front and back ranks and may be delivered at a relatively high delivery rate. A starter fertilizer may be delivered at a relatively lower delivery rate at or near seed furrows.

First claim

I claim:

1. A singulation seeding system, comprising:
a first bulk storage container towable behind a tractor and storing a first fertilizer for delivery to an agricultural field;
a second bulk storage container towable behind the tractor and storing a second starter fertilizer for delivery to the agricultural field;
a bulk seed storage container towable by the tractor and storing seed for delivery to the agricultural field;
a drill towable behind the tractor and including a first rank arranged relatively closer to the tractor and a second rank arranged relatively further from the tractor;
a ground-engaging tool supported by one of the first and second ranks of the drill and arranged to contact the agriculture field, the ground-engaging tool including a first opener arranged at the first rank to open a first furrow in the agricultural field and a second opener arranged at the second rank to open a second furrow in the agricultural field;
multiple fertilizer placement assemblies arranged on the first and second ranks of the drill, each fertilizer placement assembly including a first fertilizer delivery tube fluidly connected to the first bulk storage container and arranged to direct the first fertilizer from the first bulk storage container to the agricultural field at a location that corresponds to a location of engagement of the first opener of the ground-engaging tool with the agricultural field and a second fertilizer delivery tube fluidly connected to the second bulk storage container and arranged to direct the second fertilizer from the second bulk storage container to the agricultural field at a location that corresponds to a location of engagement of the second opener of the ground-engaging tool with the agricultural field; and
multiple planter row units arranged on the second rank of the drill, each planter row unit including a seed meter fluidly connected to and receiving seed from the bulk seed storage container, the seed meter singulating the seeds from the bulk seed storage container for individual delivery onto the corresponding second furrow of the agricultural field.

2. The singulation seeding system of claim 1 wherein the drill includes a first toolbar arranged at the first rank and a second toolbar arranged at the second rank.

3. The singulation seeding system of claim 1 wherein the ground-engaging tool is supported by the first toolbar and arranged for preparing the agricultural field to receive the first fertilizer.

4. The singulation seeding system of claim 1 wherein the first bulk storage container is supported by the drill and the first fertilizer stored in the first bulk storage container is a starter fertilizer delivered to the agricultural field at a relatively lower delivery rate, and wherein the second fertilizer stored in the second bulk storage container is a high-volume fertilizer for delivery to the agricultural field at a relatively higher delivery rate.

5. The singulation seeding system of claim 4 wherein the starter fertilizer and the high-volume fertilizer are delivered from different segments of the drill.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Kowalchuk Trevor L

Classifications

• A01C7/046

  with perforated seeding discs · CPC title

• A01C15/006

  Hoppers · CPC title

• A01B49/06 Primary

  for sowing or fertilising · CPC title

• A01C5/064

  with rotating tools · CPC title

• A01C21/002

  Apparatus for sowing fertiliser; Fertiliser drill · CPC title