Seed metering apparatus for a seeder
AssigneeStraw Track Manufacturing Inc.
InventorNorbert Beaujot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seed metering apparatus includes a seed container with a feed opening in a bottom thereof. A feed shaft is rotatably mounted across the feed opening. A feed disc is mounted to the shaft and disc recesses are spaced along a periphery thereof An upright shield plate extends across the feed opening adjacent to the shaft and defines a disc slot having a width corresponding to a thickness of the disc. An output portion of the feed disc extends through the disc slot forward of a front face of the shield plate. The feed shaft, feed disc, and shield plate are configured such that the shield plate seals the feed opening, and such that an intake portion of the feed disc is in the feed opening exposed to seeds. Rotation of the feed shaft carries seeds out of the seed container in the disc recesses and into a seed receiver.
Claims22
A seed metering apparatus for a seeder, the apparatus comprising:
- a seed container with a feed opening in a bottom thereof:
- a feed shaft rotatably mounted in a substantially horizontal orientation and extending substantially from a right side of the feed opening to a left side thereof;
- at least one feed disc mounted to the feed shaft such that the at least one feed disc and feed shaft rotate together, and a plurality of projections extending from a periphery of the at least one feed disc, the projections forming disc recesses substantially equally spaced along the periphery of the at least one feed disc;
- a shield plate extending from the right side of the feed opening to the left side thereof in an upright orientation from a bottom edge thereof to a top edge thereof, the shield plate being substantially parallel to, in front of, and adjacent to a front side of the feed shaft, the shield plate defining a disc slot having a width corresponding to a thickness of the at least one feed disc and configured such that the at least one feed disc extends through the disc slot with seeds substantially prevented from passing between edges of the disc slot and the at least one feed disc;
- wherein the feed shaft, at least one feed disc, and shield plate are configured such that the shield plate substantially seals the feed opening, and such that an intake portion of the periphery of the at least one feed disc is located in the feed opening exposed to seeds in the seed container, and such that an output portion of the at least one feed disc extends forward of a front face of the shield plate through the disc slot;
- and
- wherein rotation of the feed shaft carries seeds out of the seed container in the disc recesses such that the seeds drop into a seed receiver below the front face of the shield plate.
A seed metering apparatus for an air seeder, the apparatus comprising:
- a seed container with a feed opening in a bottom thereof:
- a feed shaft rotatably mounted in a substantially horizontal orientation and extending substantially from a right side of the feed opening to a left side thereof;
- a plurality of feed discs mounted to the feed shaft such that the feed discs and feed shaft rotate together, and a plurality of projections extending from a periphery of each feed disc, the projections forming disc recesses substantially equally spaced along the periphery of the at least one feed disc;
- a shield plate extending from the right side of the feed opening to the left side thereof in an upright orientation from a bottom edge thereof to a top edge thereof, the shield plate being substantially parallel to, in front of, and adjacent to a front side of the feed shaft, the shield plate defining a disc slot for each feed disc, the disc slots having a width corresponding to a thickness of the feed discs and configured such that the feed discs extend through the corresponding disc slots with seeds substantially prevented from passing between edges of the disc slots and the feed discs;
- wherein the feed shaft, feed discs, and shield plate are configured such that the shield plate substantially seals the feed opening, and such that an intake portion of the periphery of each feed disc is located in the feed opening exposed to seeds in the seed container, and such that an output portion of each feed disc extends forward of a front face of the shield plate through the corresponding disc slots;
- and
- wherein rotation of the feed shaft carries seeds out of the seed container in the disc recesses such that the seeds drop into a seed receiver below the front face of the shield plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.