Seed meter

A kit for the retrofitting of seed distribution elements of precision pneumatic seed drills wherein the distribution elements are of the type including:

• a sowing disc which is rotated by a motor-driven transmission drive shaft at controlled speed;
• a housing with a fixed portion and a portion which is movable relative to the fixed portion and can be closed against the fixed portion;
• a seed collection chamber being defined in the fixed portion;
• a pneumatic suction chamber being defined in the movable portion;
• the sowing disc being interposed between the fixed and movable portions and having opposed surfaces delimiting the chambers;
• the sowing disc having at least one ring of selector holes extending between the opposed surfaces;
• and
• a seal which is arranged on the movable portion and is capable of sliding contact with the facing surface of the disc when the portions are closed against one another;
• wherein a pressure differential is provided between the opposed surfaces in the region of a circumferential segment of the ring of holes;
• wherein the kit comprises the movable portion pre-assembled with a thrust-bearing element of the sowing disc, which thrust-bearing element is supported rotatably in the movable portion in order to withstand at least some of the axial load produced by the disc on the seal.

A seed meter for an agricultural planter, said seed meter comprising:

• a seed disc which is rotated by a motor-driven shaft at controlled speed;
• a meter housing with a fixed portion and a portion which is movable relative to the fixed portion and can be closed against the fixed portion;
• a seed pool area being defined in the fixed portion;
• a vacuum area defined in the movable portion;
• the seed disc being interposed between the fixed and movable portions and having opposed surfaces delimiting the seed pool area from the vacuum area;
• the seed disc having at least one ring of seed apertures extending between the opposed surfaces;
• and
• a seal which is arranged on the movable portion and is capable of sliding contact with the facing surface of the disc when the fixed and movable portions are closed against one another
• wherein a pressure differential is provided between the opposed surfaces in the region of a circumferential segment of the ring of seed apertures;
• wherein the seed meter further comprises a thrust-bearing element of the seed disc, which thrust-bearing element is supported rotatably in the movable portion in order to withstand at least some of the axial load produced by the disc on the seal.

An assembly for a seed meter of an agricultural planter wherein the seed meter is of the type including:

• a seed disc which is rotated by a motor-driven shaft at controlled speed;
• a meter housing with a fixed portion and a portion which is movable relative to the fixed portion and can be closed against the fixed portion;
• a seed pool area being defined in the fixed portion;
• a vacuum area defined in the movable portion;
• the seed disc being interposed between the fixed and movable portions and having opposed surfaces delimiting the seed pool area from the vacuum area;
• the seed disc having at least one ring of seed apertures extending between the opposed surfaces;
• and
• a seal which is arranged on the movable portion and is capable of sliding contact with the facing surface of the disc when the fixed and movable portions are closed against one another;
• wherein a pressure differential is provided between the opposed surfaces in the region of a circumferential segment of the ring of seed apertures;
• wherein the assembly comprises, in said movable portion, a thrust-bearing element of the seed disc, which thrust-bearing element is supported rotatably in the movable portion in order to withstand at least some of the axial load produced by the disc on the seal.