US 11,528,839 B2 · Combine cover crop planter

Abstract

A planting system for a combine in embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following elements: (a) a soil opening system having one or more soil openers operably connected to one or more mounting arms operably attached to the combine, (b) a seed handling system having one or more seed dispensers with one or more seed tubes operably connected to the one or more seed dispensers and a seed reservoir adapted for housing cover crop seed, and (c) a control system having one or more actuators operably connected to one or more controllers, wherein at least one of the sets of soil openers and sets of seed dispensers is operably attached to a header of the combine.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims11

Dependent claims

A planting system for a combine, comprising:

a combine frame operably supported by one or more axles and having an operator's cab with one or more combine controls and one or more soil opener controls, wherein at least one of the one or more axles is driven by a motor;
a header operably attached to the combine frame for harvesting a crop;
one or more header actuators for actuating the header to a harvesting position wherein the header is positioned proximate the soil and a non-harvesting position wherein the header is positioned away from the soil using the one or more combine controls;
a soil opening system having one or more soil openers operably attached the combine frame;
one or more soil opener actuators for actuating the one or more soil openers to a planting position wherein the soil openers are positioned in the soil and a non-planting position wherein the soil openers are positioned away from the soil using the one or more soil opener controls;
a seed handling system having one or more seed dispensers with one or more seed tubes operably connected to the one or more seed dispensers and a seed reservoir adapted for housing cover crop seed, wherein each of the one or more soil openers include at least one of the one or more seed dispensers for planting cover crop seed;
and
a controller operably connected to the one or more soil opener controls and the one or more soil opener actuators, and operably connected to the one or more combine controls and the one or more header actuators;
a control panel within the operator's cab, the control panel having the one or more combine controls comprising a header actuator control for operating the header between the harvesting position and the non-harvesting position, and one or more soil opener controls comprising a soil opener actuator control for operating the one or more soil openers between the planting position and the non-planting position dependent on the one or more combine controls;
wherein the soil opener actuator control is dependent on the header actuator control.

7 more elements

A planting system for a combine, comprising:

a combine frame operably supported by one or more axles and having an operator's cab with one or more combine controls and one or more seed planting controls, wherein at least one of the one or more axles is driven by a motor;
a header operably attached to the combine frame for harvesting a crop;
one or more header actuators for actuating the header to a harvesting position wherein the header is positioned proximate the soil and a non-harvesting position wherein the header is positioned away from the soil using the one or more combine controls;
a soil opening system having one or more soil openers operably attached the combine frame;
one or more soil opener actuators for actuating the one or more soil openers to a planting position wherein the soil openers are positioned in the soil and a non-planting position wherein the soil openers are positioned away from the soil using the one or more seed planting controls;
a seed handling system having one or more seed dispensers with one or more seed tubes operably connected to the one or more seed dispensers and a seed reservoir adapted for housing cover crop seed, wherein each of the one or more soil openers include at least one of the one or more seed dispensers for planting cover crop seed;
and
a controller operably connected to the one or more seed planting controls and the one or more soil opener actuators, and operably connected to the one or more combine controls and the one or more header actuators;
a control panel within the operator's cab, the control panel having the one or more combine controls comprising a header actuator control for operating the header between the harvesting position and the non-harvesting position, a seed handling system actuator control for operating the one or more seed dispensers for planting cover crop seed, a thresher actuator control for operating a thresher for harvesting the crop, and the one or more seed planting controls comprising a soil opener actuator control for operating the one or more soil openers between the planting position and the non-planting position;
wherein the soil opener actuator control is dependent on at least the header actuator control.

7 more elements

A planting system for a combine, comprising:

a combine frame operably supported by one or more axles and having an operator's cab with one or more combine controls and one or more soil opener controls, wherein at least one of the one or more axles is driven by a motor;
a header operably attached to the combine frame for harvesting a crop;
one or more header actuators for actuating the header to a harvesting position wherein the header is positioned proximate the soil and a non-harvesting position wherein the header is positioned away from the soil using the one or more combine controls;
a soil opening system having one or more soil openers operably attached the combine frame;
one or more soil opener actuators for actuating the one or more soil openers to a planting position wherein the soil openers are positioned in the soil and a non-planting position wherein the soil openers are positioned away from the soil using the one or more soil opener controls;
a seed handling system having one or more seed handling system controls, one or more seed dispensers with one or more seed tubes operably connected to the one or more seed dispensers, and a seed reservoir adapted for housing cover crop seed, wherein each of the one or more soil openers include at least one of the one or more seed dispensers for planting cover crop seed;
and
a controller operably connected to the one or more soil opener controls, the one or more soil opener actuators, the one or more combine controls, the one or more header actuators, the one or more seed handling system controls, and the one or more seed dispensers for planting cover crop seed dependent on a header actuator control;
a control panel within the operator's cab, the control panel having the one or more combine controls comprising the header actuator control for operating the header between the harvesting position and the non-harvesting position, and one or more soil opener controls comprising a soil opener actuator control for operating the one or more soil openers between the planting position and the non-planting position dependent on the one or more combine controls.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description8,102 words

Summary1,427 words

#The present invention relates generally to a device, system and methods for planting crops. Particularly, the present invention relates to a device, system and methods to combine harvesting and planting to optimize the time a combine spends in the field. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device, system and methods for planting a cover crop during harvesting.

#The use of cover crops has contributed to the overall success of conservation systems for many producers. Cover crops are increasingly being used to protect the soil from erosion during winter months, to enhance filtration and storage of winter rainfall, and reduce the negative effects of soil compaction. Cover crops also increase the buildup of organic matter in the soil which leads to improved soil structure. There are four classes of cover crops: grasses (such as ryegrass or broadleaves (such as spinach or flax).

#Such cover crops are planted between cash crop (such as corn, soybean, wheat, rye, barley, oats, etc.) seasons to provide a living cover on the landscape, such as a field. Cover crops protect soil and water quality, reduce chemical input costs, improve farm resiliency, boost yields, increase forage availability, and improve wildlife habitat. Further advantages include improved water absorption, reduced runoff, reduced nutrient loss, and reduced chemical input costs.

Brief description of the drawings8 figures

#Illustrated embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein.

#FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a combine with a seed planting system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a side plan view of a combine with a seed planting system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

Detailed description6,472 words

#Some of the figures include graphical and ornamental elements. It is to be understood the illustrative embodiments contemplate permutations and combinations of the various graphical elements set forth in the figures thereof.

#The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the present teachings. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be clear to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the present teachings. Thus, the present teachings are not intended to be limited to embodiments shown but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description is to be read with reference to the figures, in which like elements in different figures have like reference numerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings. Skilled artisans will recognize the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of the present teachings. While embodiments of the present invention are discussed in terms of a combine harvester and cover crop planter system, it is fully contemplated embodiments of the present invention could be used in most any agricultural application without departing from the spirit of the invention.

#The present invention provides advantages in addition to saving time and resources. Namely, planting a cover crop while harvesting is advantageous. A farmer can save time, fuel and money by planting seed at the same time a cash crop is being harvested from a field. Further, the seeding of a cover crop provides all the advantages listed above.

Facts

Application

16/414,423Filed 16 May 2019 · us provisional application

Priority

17 May 2018

Published

US 2019/0350124 A121 Nov 2019

Granted

20 Dec 2022

Term ends

31 Mar 2040

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 320 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification11 codes

A01C 7/006
Sowing: minimum till seeding
A01C 7/201
Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed: mounting of the seeding tools
A01C 7/208
Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed: chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers
A01C 14/00
Methods or apparatus for planting not provided for in other groups of

Timeline

17 May 2018Priority claimedParent application 62/672,842
16 May 2019Application filedUS 16/414,423
29 May 2019Assigned to Max and Cindy Pitt, LLCassignment of assignor's interest
21 Nov 2019PublishedUS 2019/0350124 A1
20 Dec 2022GrantedUS 11,528,839 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
31 Mar 2040Term endsEstimated, includes 320 days of adjustment

Combine cover crop planter

Life of this patent

Combine cover crop planter

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims11

Description8,102 words

Drawings

Classification11 codes

Life of this patent

Description8,102 words