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US 10,743,460 B2Granted
Controlled air pulse metering apparatus for an agricultural planter and related systems and methods
AssigneeAg Leader Technology
InventorsDouglas Gilbert, Jeff Westbrook, Alex Hartogh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The devices, systems, and methods herein use air pressure to dispense seed into the ground in a controlled manner. In certain embodiments, a valve is actuated to push a single seed out of a seed chamber. The seed can be conveyed from the metering housing and through a seed delivery apparatus to the furrow at high speed. The seed is rapid conveyed from the seed chamber to the furrow by a precisely controlled air pulse to eliminate variation and enable high planting speeds.
Claims20
An apparatus for metering seed on an agricultural planter comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a seed chamber defined within the housing, the seed chamber comprising:
- (i) a seed launching position configured to sequentially receive seeds;
- and
- (ii) a seed ejection lumen in fluidic communication with the seed launching position;
- (c) a seed receiving lumen defined within the housing in fluidic communication with the seed chamber, wherein the seed receiving lumen is disposed adjacent to the seed launching position;
- (d) a first air source in fluidic communication with the seed chamber, wherein the first air source is constructed and arranged to provide a continuous stream of air;
- and
- (e) an air pulse source associated with the housing, the air pulse source comprising:
- (i) a second air source;
- and
- (ii) a repeating air pulse generator operably coupled to the second air source, wherein the air pulse generator is in fluidic communication with the seed chamber, wherein the repeating air pulse generator is constructed and arranged to generate repeating air pulses from the second air source,
- wherein:
- (i) the first air source is in fluidic communication with the seed chamber via a first air intake lumen, and wherein the repeating air pulse generator is in fluidic communication with the seed chamber via a second air intake lumen disposed adjacent to the seed receiving lumen such that each of the repeating air pulses is configured to urge a seed from the seed receiving lumen toward the seed launching position, and
- (ii) seeds sequentially disposed on the seed launching position are ejected via the ejection lumen in a serial fashion.
12 more elements
An apparatus for metering seed on an agricultural planter comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a seed chamber defined within the housing, the seed chamber comprising:
- (i) a seed launching position configured to sequentially receive seeds;
- and
- (ii) a seed ejection lumen in fluidic communication with the seed launching position;
- (c) a seed receiving lumen defined within the housing in fluidic communication with the seed chamber, wherein the seed receiving lumen is disposed adjacent to the seed launching position;
- (d) a first air source in fluidic communication with the seed chamber, wherein the first air source is constructed and arranged to provide a continuous stream of air;
- (e) an air pulse source associated with the housing, the air pulse source comprising:
- (i) a second air source;
- and
- (ii) a repeating air pulse generator operably coupled to the second air source, wherein the air pulse generator is in fluidic communication with the seed chamber, wherein the repeating air pulse generator is constructed and arranged to generate repeating air pulses from the second air source;
- and
- (f) a seed retention structure disposed across at least a portion of a width of the seed chamber,
- wherein:
- (i) the first air source is in fluidic communication with the seed chamber via a first air intake lumen, and wherein the repeating air pulse generator is in fluidic communication with the seed chamber via a second air intake lumen disposed adjacent to the seed receiving lumen such that each of the repeating air pulses is configured to urge a seed from the seed receiving lumen toward the seed launching position, and
- (ii) the seed retention structure is positioned adjacent to the seed launching position.
13 more elements
A system for planting seed comprising:
- (a) a planter having a plurality of row units, each row unit comprising a furrow opening mechanism, wherein each row unit is operably coupled to a bulk seed supply;
- and
- (b) a plurality of seed meters comprising:
- (i) a housing;
- (ii) a seed chamber defined within the housing, the seed chamber comprising:
- (A) a seed launching position configured to sequentially receive seeds;
- and
- (B) a seed ejection lumen in fluidic communication with the seed launching position;
- (iii) a seed receiving lumen defined within the housing in fluidic communication with the seed chamber, wherein the seed receiving lumen is disposed adjacent to the seed launching position;
- (iv) a first air source in fluidic communication with the seed chamber, wherein the first air source is constructed and arranged to provide a continuous stream of air;
- and
- (v) an air pulse source associated with the housing, the air pulse source comprising:
- (A) a second air source;
- and
- (B) a repeating air pulse generator operably coupled to the second air source, wherein the air pulse generator is in fluidic communication with the seed chamber, wherein the repeating air pulse generator is constructed and arranged to generate repeating air pulses from the second air source,
- (c) a programmable controller operably coupled to the repeating air pulse generator of each of the plurality of seed meters,
- wherein:
- (i) the first air source is in fluidic communication with the seed chamber via a first air intake lumen, and wherein the repeating air pulse generator is in fluidic communication with the seed chamber via a second air intake lumen disposed adjacent to the seed receiving lumen such that each of the repeating air pulses is configured to urge a seed from the seed receiving lumen toward the seed launching position, and
- (ii) the programmable controller is configured to control the repeating air pulse generator based on input air pressure, desired seed spacing, ground speed, and turning radius.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.