# US 12,178,152 B2 · Apparatus for seeding > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,152 B2 - Document ID: US12178152B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/864,892 - Filed: 2022-07-14 - Published: 2023-01-19 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-14 - Assignees: The University of Western Australia - Applicants: Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority - Inventors: Todd Erland Erickson; Andrew Louis Guzzomi; Monte Ian Masarei; David John Merritt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178152B2 ## CPC - A01C 5/066: {Devices for covering drills or furrows} - A01C 7/16: Seeders with other distributing devices, e.g. brushes, discs, screws or slides - A01C 7/203: {comprising depth regulation means} - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) ## Abstract A brush arrangement of an apparatus includes a brush connected to a brush support. The brush support can be or include at least one four-bar linkage, trails the outlets of the seed metering device. The brush sweeps fine loose material over seeds placed on the soil surface allowing rocks to be left in place in/on the soil while the deposited seeds are lightly covered with soil by the brush. The brush arrangement can be coupled with soil manipulation apparatus, e.g., including a tool/tine support, onto which one or more soil engaging tools mount(s). The soil engaging tool may include or be at least one knifepoint, sweep, disc, blade, or other tillage equipment to engage into the soil and loosen compacted or crusted soil ahead of depositing the seeds. Brush breakout can be accommodated by a breakout coupler and optional adjustable breakout force. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for use in seeding, the apparatus comprising: a soil manipulation apparatus; a brush arrangement comprising at least one brush arranged to follow the soil manipulation apparatus, wherein, in use, the at least one brush sweeps fine loose soil particles over seed distributed onto a surface of a soil profile created by the soil manipulation apparatus; and a breakout coupler positioned to cause coupling of a breakout motion of the soil manipulation apparatus with a breakout motion of the at least one brush when, in use, the soil manipulation apparatus breaks out of engagement with the soil and a motion of the soil manipulation apparatus following breakout causes the soil manipulation apparatus to act on the breakout coupler; wherein the soil manipulation apparatus acting on the breakout coupler causes the breakout motion of the at least one brush whereby the at least one brush lifts from engagement with the soil; and wherein, in use, the soil manipulation apparatus and the brush arrangement operate independently until coupling of the breakout motion of the soil manipulation apparatus with the breakout motion of the at least one brush. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a structure to mount to a vehicle or be self-powered or to attach to a vehicle as a trailer for towing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the brush arrangement comprises at least one brush height mechanism accommodating upward and downward motion of the at least one brush. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one brush height mechanism comprises at least one linkage arrangement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one linkage arrangement comprises at least one four-bar linkage mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one four-bar linkage comprises laterally spaced four bar linkage mechanisms. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one seed delivery outlet provided to deliver seeds ahead of a respective one of the at least one brush. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one seed delivery outlet receives seeds from a seed delivery device, a seed metering device or an air seeder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the seed delivery device, seed metering device or air seeder is vehicle mounted or mounted on a support frame of the apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the seeds are provided as loose seeds, or in seed carriers, pellets, pats, pucks or balls bearing the seeds. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the soil manipulation apparatus comprises at least one soil engaging tool on a tool support to loosen rocky, compacted or crusted soil to provide loose fines for sweeping by a respective one of the at least one brush. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one soil engaging tool comprises at least one of a grader blade, plough blade or disc, disc opener, ripper tooth, tiller blade, or a combination selected from at least two or more thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the soil manipulation apparatus comprises a breakout with adjustable preload or lift mechanism to lift the at least one soil engaging tool and/or the tool support. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the breakout coupler enables the brush arrangement to lift or fall, matching motion of the at least one soil engaging tool and/or the tool support. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises multiple breakout coupler attachment positions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising rest position means for controlling a rest position of the brush mechanism and/or the at least one brush. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, comprising at least one biasing means to control the rest position of the brush mechanism as well as controlling down force provided by the at least one brush to the soil. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the biasing means comprises at least one spring, at least one weight, at least one elastomer member, or a combination of any two or more thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a position lock for locking the position of the brush mechanism to restrict a degree of freedom of movement of a respective one of the at least one brush. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a motion limiter for limiting or restricting range of motion of at least one four bar mechanism that controls height/position of the at least one brush. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a seed spreading device, a seed delivery device or seed diffuser to regulate distribution of the seeds across a width of the at least one brush. ### Claim 22 A method of seeding comprising: travelling an apparatus over terrain comprising soil, the apparatus further comprising at least one seed delivery outlet for delivering seeds ahead of a respective one of the at least one brush, wherein the apparatus comprises: a soil manipulation apparatus; a brush arrangement comprising at least one brush arranged to follow the soil manipulation apparatus, wherein, in use, the at least one brush sweeps fine loose soil particles over seed distributed onto a surface of a soil profile created by the soil manipulation apparatus; and a breakout coupler positioned to cause coupling of a breakout motion of the soil manipulation apparatus with a breakout motion of the at least one brush when, in use, the soil manipulation apparatus breaks out of engagement with the soil and a motion of the soil manipulation apparatus following breakout causes the soil manipulation apparatus to act on the breakout coupler; wherein the soil manipulation apparatus acting on the breakout coupler causes the breakout motion of the at least one brush whereby the at least one brush lifts from engagement with the soil; and wherein, in use, the soil manipulation apparatus and the brush arrangement operate independently until coupling of the breakout motion of the soil manipulation apparatus with the breakout motion of the at least one brush; using the soil manipulation apparatus to loosen soil before seed deposition thereby providing loose soil particles and creating a soil profile; using the at least one seed delivery outlet, depositing seeds onto a surface of the soil profile; and using the at least one brush to sweep fine particles of the loose soil over the seeds and lightly cover the deposited seeds with soil, leaving larger soil particles in place over the terrain thereby retaining the soil profile created by the soil manipulation apparatus. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, comprising providing the seed delivery outlet between a ground engaging tool of the soil manipulation apparatus and the at least one brush. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein depositing seeds onto the surface of the soil profile comprises receiving, by the at least one seed delivery outlet, seeds from a seed delivery device and/or a seed metering device. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the seed delivery device performs delivery of the seed to the at least one seed delivery outlet and/or the seed metering device to the at least one seed delivery outlet by means of an air seeder or gravity. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, comprising sweeping the soil particulates over the seed on the soil surface or in the channel, furrow, recess or hole to a seed depth of up to 25 mm from the swept soil surface over the channel, furrow, recess or hole. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, comprising controlling a rest position of the brush mechanism and/or brush. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, comprising using at least one biasing means to control the rest position of the at least one brush as well as controlling down force provided by the at least one brush to the soil. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one biasing means comprises at least one spring, at least one weight, at least one elastomer member, or a combination of any two or more thereof. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, comprising locking the position of the at least one brush to restrict a degree of freedom of movement of a respective one of the at least one brush. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, comprising limiting or restricting range of motion of at least one four bar mechanism that controls height/position of the at least one brush.