Electronically pulsing agricultural product with seed utilizing seed transport mechanism

• US 10,058,023 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMVAC Chemical Corporation (American Vanguard Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AMVAC Chemical Corporation (American Vanguard Corporation)
• Inventors: Conrad, Larry M., Rice, Richard L., Rysdam, Rex A., Porter, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John
• Application Number:
  US15/208,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20180014456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 111173
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/06 Coating or dressing seed
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/08 Immunising seed
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/04 Single-grain seeders with or without suction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/102 Regulating or controlling the seed rate
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/105 Seed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/128 Cell discs
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/20 Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/206 Seed pipes

Abstract

A system for electronically pulsing agricultural product with seed includes a seed transport mechanism affixed to a seed planter row unit. A seed sensing device senses dispensation of the seed from the seed transport mechanism. An agricultural product conduit dispenses agricultural products into the seed transport mechanism to provide dispensing of the products with the seed as the seed and product exit the seed transport mechanism. A control interface electronic system dispenses a particular quantity of product with the seed in the seed transport mechanism. A pulsing valve dispenses products from the conduit when the seed sensing device senses the dispensation of the seed. A seed release speed is provided which is proportional to the ground speed of the seed planter row unit to minimize seed tumbling and optimize accurate placement of seed and product at varying ground speeds of the row unit.

Claims

1. A system for electronically pulsing agricultural product with seed, comprising:

a) a seed transport mechanism affixed to a seed planter row unit operating at a high speed, configured to dispense seed, said seed transport mechanism including a pulley, a pulley belt, a housing, and a conduit for introducing agricultural product into said housing, wherein said conduit is configured to be introduced in a direction away from said pulley and said pulley belt, minimizing the amount of material that can be accumulated in the seed transport mechanism;

b) a seed sensing device operably connected to the seed transport mechanism and configured to sense a dispensation of the seed from the seed transport mechanism;

c) an agricultural product conduit configured to dispense agricultural products into the seed transport mechanism to provide dispensing of the agricultural products with the seed as the seed and agricultural product exit the seed transport mechanism, said agricultural products comprising chemical granules;

d) a control interface electronic system operably connected to an agricultural product metering system and the agricultural product conduit, the control interface electronic system being configured to dispense a particular quantity of agricultural product with the seed in the seed transport mechanism; and

,

e) an electrical pulsing valve operably coupled to the agricultural product conduit and the control interface electronic system, being configured to open to dispense chemical granule agricultural products from the agricultural product conduit when the seed sensing device senses the dispensation of the seed, and,

wherein the seed transport mechanism is configured to provide a seed release speed at which the seed and agricultural product exit the seed transport mechanism, the seed release speed being varied in a manner proportional to the variation in the ground speed of the seed planter row unit to minimize seed tumbling to optimize accurate placement of seed and chemical granule agricultural product at varying ground speeds of the seed planter row unit.

2. The system claim 1 wherein said seed transport mechanism and said agricultural product tube are in an integrated assembly for accurate placement of the chemical granules with the seed.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said seed transport mechanism comprises a paddle belt assembly.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said seed transport mechanism comprises a brush belt assembly.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said seed transport mechanism comprises a disc/seed pocket assembly.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said seed transport mechanism comprises a seed tube assembly.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising said agricultural product metering system, wherein said agricultural product metering system includes an in-meter diffuser.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising said agricultural product metering system, wherein said agricultural product metering system includes a single slope in-meter diffuser.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising said agricultural product metering system, wherein said agricultural product metering system includes a double slope in-meter diffuser.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising said agricultural product metering system, wherein said agricultural product metering system includes an inclined auger.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said seed transport mechanism affixed to a seed planter row unit is configured to operate with a seed planter row unit operating at a high speed defined as between about 7 and about 16 mph.

12. The system claim 1 wherein said seed transport mechanism and said agricultural product tube are in an integrated assembly for accurate placement of the chemical granules with the seed.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said seed transport mechanism comprises a paddle belt assembly.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said seed transport mechanism comprises a brush belt assembly.

15. A method for electronically pulsing agricultural product with seed, comprising:

a) dispensing seed utilizing a seed transport mechanism affixed to a seed planter row unit operating at a high speed, configured to dispense seed, said seed transport mechanism including a pulley, a pulley belt, a housing, and a conduit for introducing agricultural product into said housing, wherein said conduit is configured to be introduced in a direction away from said pulley and said pulley belt, minimizing the amount of material that can be accumulated in the seed transport mechanism;

b) sensing a dispensation of the seed from the seed transport mechanism utilizing a seed sensing device operably connected to the seed transport mechanism;

c) dispensing agricultural products with the seed as the seed and agricultural product exit the seed transport mechanism by utilizing an agricultural product conduit for dispensing agricultural products into the seed transport mechanism prior to exiting the seed transport mechanism, said agricultural products comprising chemical granules;

d) dispensing a particular quantity of agricultural product with the seed in the seed transport mechanism utilizing a control interface electronic system operably connected to an agricultural product metering system and the agricultural product conduit;

e) dispensing chemical granule agricultural products from the agricultural product conduit when the seed sensing device senses the dispensation of the seed utilizing an electrical pulsing valve operably coupled to the agricultural product conduit and the control interface electronic system,

wherein the seed transport mechanism is configured to provide a seed release speed at which the seed and agricultural product exit the seed transport mechanism, the seed release speed being varied in a manner proportional to the variation in the ground speed of the seed planter row unit to minimize seed tumbling to optimize accurate placement of seed and chemical granule agricultural product at varying ground speeds of the seed planter row unit.