# US 11,439,055 B2 · Sowing element for agricultural precision sowing machines and sowing machine comprising the sowing element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,055 B2 - Document ID: US11439055B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/762,592 - Filed: 2018-11-09 - Published: 2021-05-27 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-10 - Assignees: Maschio Gaspardo S.P.A. - Applicants: Maschio Gaspardo S.p.A. - Inventors: Gianfranco Donadon; Luigi Giovanni Bot; Bruno Miolo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439055B2 ## CPC - A01C 7/082: {Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders} - A01C 7/0445: {Seed ejectors} - A01C 7/046: {with perforated seeding discs} - A01C 7/081: {Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means} - A01C 7/206: {Seed pipes} - A01C 7/105: {Seed sensors} - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) ## Abstract A sowing element (1) for agricultural precision sowing machines (100) comprising a seed selection device (10) which includes a casing (10a) and a perforated disc (18) which is caused to rotate in the casing, a pressurization device associated with the casing in order to subject opposite faces (18a, b) of the disc to a pressure differential, an opening (16) in the casing which is for ventilating one of the faces of the disc and which is or can be pneumatically connected to a filtration system (42) or a remote intake system. In this manner, the introduction of sand and powder inside the seed selection device is prevented. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sowing element for agricultural precision sowing machines, comprising: a seed selection device which includes a casing and a perforated disc which is caused to rotate in the casing, wherein a pressurization device is associated with the casing in order to subject opposite faces of the disc to a pressure differential, and wherein an opening is provided in the casing in order to ventilate one of the faces of the disc, wherein the opening is pneumatically connected to a filtration system or to a remote intake system, wherein the box-shaped casing comprises a fixed box-shaped body and a cover which is removably applied to the box-shaped body, the opening being formed in the box-shaped body, wherein in a region of the opening, at least one manifold is formed on the box-shaped body for an intake pipe or a delivery pipe of the pressurization device, where the box-shaped body comprises a first manifold which is connected to a ventilation system which is capable of subjecting a face of the disc to a negative pressure and a second manifold is connected to the filtration system or to the remote intake system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sowing element according to claim 1, wherein the filtration system comprises a filter or a powder decanter which is applied to an end of the pipe which is distal from the manifold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sowing element according to claim 2, further comprising a sowing pipe which is associated with the selection device and a seed passage detector which is arranged along the sowing pipe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sowing element according to claim 3, further comprising an ejector along the sowing pipe which is supplied by a compressed air dispenser in order to pneumatically accelerate the seeds which are separated by the selection device along the sowing pipe. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sowing element according to claim 4, wherein the seed passage detector is arranged immediately upstream or downstream of the ejector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sowing element according to claim 1, wherein the first manifold is or can be connected to an intake opening of the ventilation system and the second manifold is or can be connected to a delivery opening of the ventilation system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sowing element according to claim 6, further comprising a sowing pipe which is associated with the selection device and a seed passage detector which is arranged along the sowing pipe. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sowing element according to claim 7, further comprising an ejector along the sowing pipe which is supplied by a compressed air dispenser in order to pneumatically accelerate the seeds which are separated by the selection device along the sowing pipe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sowing element according to claim 8, wherein the seed passage detector is arranged immediately upstream or downstream of the ejector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sowing element according to claim 1, further comprising a sowing pipe which is associated with the selection device and a seed passage detector which is arranged along the sowing pipe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sowing element according to claim 10, further comprising an ejector along the sowing pipe which is supplied by a compressed air dispenser in order to pneumatically accelerate the seeds which are separated by the selection device along the sowing pipe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sowing element according to claim 11, wherein the seed passage detector is arranged immediately upstream or downstream of the ejector. ### Claim 13 An agricultural precision sowing machine including a plurality of sowing elements, where each of the sowing elements comprises a seed selection device which includes a casing and a perforated disc which is caused to rotate in the casing, wherein a pressurization device is associated with the casing in order to subject opposite faces of the disc to a pressure differential, and wherein an opening is provided in the casing in order to ventilate one of the faces of the disc, wherein the opening is pneumatically connected to a filtration system or to a remote intake system, wherein the box-shaped casing comprises a fixed box-shaped body and a cover which is removably applied to the box-shaped body, the opening being formed in the box-shaped body, wherein in a region of the opening, at least one manifold is formed on the box-shaped body for an intake pipe or a delivery pipe of the pressurization device, where the box-shaped body comprises a first manifold which is connected to a ventilation system which is capable of subjecting a face of the disc to a negative pressure and a second manifold is connected to the filtration system or to the remote intake system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The agricultural precision sowing machine according to claim 13, wherein the same filtration system or remote intake system is associated with a plurality of the sowing elements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The agricultural precision sowing machine of claim 13, wherein the filtration system in each of the plurality of sowing elements comprises a filter or a powder decanter which is applied to an end of the pipe which is distal from the manifold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The agricultural precision sowing machine of claim 13, wherein the first manifold in each of the plurality of sowing elements is or can be connected to an intake opening of the ventilation system and the second manifold is or can be connected to a delivery opening of the ventilation system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The agricultural precision sowing machine of claim 16, where each of the plurality of sowing elements further comprising a sowing pipe which is associated with the selection device and a seed passage detector which is arranged along the sowing pipe. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The agricultural precision sowing machine of claim 17, where each of the plurality of sowing elements further comprising an ejector along the sowing pipe which is supplied by a compressed air dispenser in order to pneumatically accelerate the seeds which are separated by the selection device along the sowing pipe. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The agricultural precision sowing machine of claim 18, wherein the seed passage detector in each of the plurality of sowing elements is arranged immediately upstream or downstream of the ejector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The agricultural precision sowing machine of claim 13, where each of the plurality of sowing elements further comprising a sowing pipe which is associated with the selection device and a seed passage detector which is arranged along the sowing pipe.