# US 2014/0196646 A1 · Seed Metering Assembly For a Farm Implment

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- Number: US 2014/0196646 A1
- Document ID: US20140196646A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/224,393
- Filed: 2014-03-25
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2011-01-06
- Assignees: CNH Canada, Ltd.
- Applicants: CNH Canada, Ltd.
- Inventors: Terrance A. Friggstad
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196646A1

## CPC

- A01C 7/081: {Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means}
- A01C 7/088: {Sectional seeding}
- A01C 7/20: Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed
- A01C 15/006: {Hoppers}
- A01C 21/00: Methods of fertilising {, sowing or planting}
- Y10T 29/49448: Agricultural device making
- A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention is directed to a seed metering assembly comprised of a set of stand-alone modular seed metering units. Each seed metering unit is selectively driven by a common drive member, such as a drive shaft. When a seed metering unit is engaged with the drive member, the unit will meter granular material. On the other hand, when the seed metering unit is not engaged with the drive member, the metering unit will not meter granular material. Hence, the present invention provides a seed metering apparatus in which the number of seed metering units can be scaled to match the number of distribution headers of a seeding implement.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-10. (canceled)

### Claim 11

A seed metering assembly for a farm implement having a hopper sized to hold a volume of particulate material and having a discharge end for passing of particulate material to a set delivery runs flow coupled to a plurality of distribution headers, the assembly comprising:
a plurality of seed metering cassettes individually mounted adjacent the discharge end of the hopper with each seed metering cassette in fluid communication with an internal volume of the hopper and at least one delivery run, each seed metering cassette configured to be independently driven by a common drive shaft, and wherein the number of seed metering cassettes is matched to the plurality of distribution headers of the farm implement.

### Claim 12

(canceled)

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The seed metering assembly of claim 11 wherein each seed metering cassette further includes an idler wheel that is movable to selectively tension or slacken the drive cable about the drive shaft.

### Claim 14

(canceled)

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The seed metering assembly of claim 11 wherein each drive cable is a V-belt.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The seed metering assembly of claim 11 wherein each seed metering housing further includes an access opening that is selectively opened and closed by an access panel, and wherein the metering roller is removable from the seed metering housing when the access opening is open.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The seed metering assembly of claim 15 wherein each seed metering housing further includes a drain port and a drain panel that selectively opens and closes the drain port.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The seed metering assembly of claim 11 wherein the seed metering roller is a fluted metering roller.

### Claim 19

(canceled)

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 further comprising interfacing each of the modular seed metering units with a drive member that causes a seed metering units to meter granular material from the hopper when the seed metering unit is drivingly engaged with the drive member.