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US 6,644,225 B2Granted
Electronically controlled tuning orifice for seed meter tuning
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorMiles R. Keaton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure control system is configured to precisely tune positive air pressure or vacuum to pneumatic seed meters that are located along a pneumatic metering manifold. The system includes pressure control valves pneumatically located at plural seed meters that adjust the air pressure or vacuum at the seed meters. The system can utilize feedback pressure signals from pressure sensors at each meter to equalize positive air pressure or vacuum at the seed meters to ensure consistent row-to-row seed populations.
Claims26
A seeding machine for planting seeds in a field, the seeding machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of seed meters carried by the frame, each seed meter having an air-assisted seed distribution member comprising a rotating seed disk having perforations for engaging seeds, and a seed meter housing, said air-assisted seed distribution member located within said seed meter housing, said seed meter housing adapted to hold a differential air pressure across the disk;
- an air pump for generating air pressure, said air pump carried by the frame and in pneumatic communication with a pneumatic manifold that is carried by the frame, said pneumatic manifold in pneumatic communication with a plurality of branch lines spaced apart along a length of said manifold;
- each branch line in pneumatic communication between the pneumatic manifold and one seed meter housing;
- and
- at least one valve located in one of said branch lines, located between the pneumatic manifold and the rotating seed disk of one seed meter, said valve adjustable to balance differential air pressure across rotating seed disks between said one seed meter and at least another one of said seed meters.
3 more elements
A seeding machine for planting seeds in a field, the seeding machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of seed meters carried by the frame;
- an air pump for generating air pressure, said air pump carried by the frame and in pneumatic communication with a pneumatic manifold that is carried by the frame;
- an air hose extending between, and in pneumatic communication with, the pneumatic manifold and at least one of the seed meters;
- and
- a valve, pneumatically positioned between the pneumatic manifold and an air-assisted seed distribution member within at least one of the seed meters;
- wherein said valve is positioned between the pneumatic manifold and an air connection to a seed meter that is pneumatically closest to the air pump;
- wherein the air pump generates a negative air pressure within the pneumatic manifold;
- wherein the valve is pneumatically positioned between the air hose and the pneumatic manifold;
- and
- wherein said valve comprises a housing and an actuator mounted to the housing, and at least one baffle carried by the housing, said baffle at least partly defining an adjustable orifice, said baffle moveable by said actuator to change an open flow area of said orifice.
8 more elements
A seeding machine for planting seeds in a field, the seeding machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of seed meters carried by the frame, each seed meter having an air-assisted seed distribution member comprising a rotating seed disk having perforations for engaging seeds, and a seed meter housing, said air-assisted seed distribution member located within said seed meter housing, said seed meter housing adapted to hold a differential air pressure across the disk;
- an air pump for generating air pressure, said air pump carried by the frame and in pneumatic communication with a pneumatic manifold that is carried by the frame;
- a plurality of branch lines, each branch line extending between, and in pneumatic communication with, the pneumatic manifold and a respective one of the seed meters;
- and
- at least one control valve, pneumatically positioned within one of the branch lines to one of the seed meters, said control valve located between the pneumatic manifold and the rotating seed disk of the one seed meter, said valve adjustable to balance differential air pressure across rotating seed disks between said one seed meter and at least another one of said seed meters.
3 more elements
A seeding machine for planting seeds in a field, the seeding machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of seed meters carried by the frame;
- an air pump for generating air pressure, said air pump carried by the frame and in pneumatic communication with a pneumatic manifold that is carried by the frame;
- an air hose extending between, and in pneumatic communication with, the pneumatic manifold and each of the seed meters;
- and
- at least one control valve, pneumatically positioned between the pneumatic manifold and an air connection to at least one of the seed meters;
- wherein said at least one control valve comprises a control valve pneumatically positioned between the pneumatic manifold and each of the seed meters;
- comprising pressure sensors pneumatically located to sense the air pressure in each seed meter, and a controller, said pressure sensors signal-connected to the controller, and said controller signal-connected to the control valves to adjust the pressure drop between the pneumatic manifold and the seed meters according to the pressure sensor signals to equalize pressure at all of the seed meters.
5 more elements
A seeding machine for planting seeds in a field, the seeding machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a pneumatic manifold carried by the frame;
- an air pump for generating air pressure, said air pump carried by the frame and in pneumatic communication with said pneumatic manifold;
- a plurality of seed meters carried by the frame, at least one seed meter having an air-assisted, rotational seed distribution member within said one seed meter, said rotational seed distribution member configured to engage seeds using differential air pressure across said rotational seed distribution member, an air path extending between, and in pneumatic communication with, the pneumatic manifold and said one seed meter, said differential air pressure provided by said air pump via said air path and said one seed meter configured to dispense said seeds by rotational movement of said rotational seed distribution member;
- and
- a valve, pneumatically positioned in said air path between the pneumatic manifold and said one seed meter;
- and
- wherein said valve comprises a valve housing and an actuator mounted to the valve housing, and at least one baffle carried by the valve housing, said baffle at least partly defining an adjustable orifice, said baffle moveable by said actuator to change an open flow area of said orifice.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.