# US 11,997,939 B2 · Controlled air pulse metering apparatus for an agricultural planter and related systems and methods

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- Number: US 11,997,939 B2
- Document ID: US11997939B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/984,513
- Filed: 2020-08-04
- Published: 2020-11-19
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-03
- Assignees: Ag Leader Technology
- Applicants: Ag Leader Technology
- Inventors: Douglas Gilbert; Jeff Westbrook; Alex Hartogh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11997939B2

## CPC

- A01C 7/042: {using pneumatic means}
- A01C 7/0445: {Seed ejectors}
- A01C 7/102: {Regulating or controlling the seed rate}
- A01C 7/16: Seeders with other distributing devices, e.g. brushes, discs, screws or slides
- A01C 7/20: Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed
- 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

Seed meters implementing 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 rapidly conveyed from the seed chamber to the furrow by a precisely controlled air pulse to eliminate variation enable high planting speeds.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for metering seed comprising:
(a) a housing;
(b) a seed chamber defined within the housing, the seed chamber comprising:
(i) a seed positioning location; and
(ii) a seed ejection lumen;
(c) a seed receiving lumen in fluidic communication with the seed chamber;
(d) an air intake lumen in fluidic communication with the seed chamber;
(e) an air source in fluidic communication with the air intake lumen; and
(f) a valve,
wherein the valve is configured to provide air pulses from the air source to the seed chamber via the air intake lumen, and wherein the air pulses urge a seed in the seed positioning location toward the seed ejection lumen, and wherein seeds are sequentially deposited on the seed positioning location and serially ejected via the seed ejection lumen.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a seed retention structure disposed adjacent to the seed positioning location.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the seed retention structure is a tensioned flap or a brush.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air source is configured to provide pressurized air ranging from about 20 to about 60 psi.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air pulses have a duration from about 5 to about 50 ms.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air pulses are provided at a frequency of about 4 to about 40 Hz.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seed receiving lumen is disposed at an angle in relation to a horizontal reference point with respect to the housing.

### Claim 8

A system for metering seed comprising:
(a) a housing comprising:
(i) a seed receiving lumen; and
(ii) a seed chamber in fluidic communication with the seed receiving lumen, the seed chamber defining:
(A) a seed launching position configured to sequentially receive seed from the seed receiving lumen; and
(B) an ejection lumen;
(b) an air source in fluidic communication with the seed chamber via a valve and an air intake lumen,
wherein seeds are serially urged from the seed launching position and through ejection lumen via a pulse of air delivered from the air source via the valve and the air intake lumen.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a seed retention structure disposed adjacent to the seed launching position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the seed retention structure is a tensioned flap or a brush.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising at least one sensor disposed on or in the housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor is an optical interruption sensor, a proximity sensor, or an electromechanical sensor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a vacuum component comprising:
(a) a vacuum source; and
(b) a vacuum lumen,
wherein the vacuum lumen is in fluidic communication with the seed launching position, and wherein the vacuum source is actuated to created a vacuum at the seed launching position to urge a seed from the seed receiving lumen toward the seed launching position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the vacuum component is further configured to retain the seed at seed launching position.