Seeding system

• US 10,568,256 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2017
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Frasier, Michael E., McCartney, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US15/795,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20180049366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/00 Fertiliser distributors combined with seeders A01C7/06
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/04 using blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/081 Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/082 Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/084 Pneumatic distribution heads for seeders
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/102 Regulating or controlling the seed rate
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/04 Conveying materials in bulk pneumatically through pipes or tubes; Air slides
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/46 Gates or sluices, e.g. rotary wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/60 Devices for separating the materials from propellant gas

Abstract

A seed metering system includes a volumetric meter and a plurality of row units. Each and every one of the plurality of row units includes a singulating meter, a bypass conduit, and an outlet that is common to and downstream of the singulating meter and the bypass conduit. The seed metering system further includes a dispersion unit including an inlet and a plurality of outlets and operable to disperse the plurality of seeds from the volumetric meter to the plurality of row units. The seed metering system is operable in a first mode of operation in which the volumetric meter communicates with each singulating meter via the dispersion unit to singulate the plurality of seeds. The seed metering system is operable in a second mode of operation in which the volumetric meter communicates with each bypass conduit via the dispersion unit such that the plurality of seeds are not singulated.

Claims

1. A seed metering system for selectively metering a plurality of seeds, the seed metering system comprising:

a volumetric meter;

a plurality of row units, wherein each and every one of the plurality of row units comprises

a singulating meter in selective communication with the volumetric meter,

a bypass conduit in selective communication with the volumetric meter, and

an outlet that is common to and downstream of the singulating meter and the bypass conduit; and

a dispersion unit including an inlet and a plurality of outlets and operable to disperse the plurality of seeds from the volumetric meter to the plurality of row units,

wherein the seed metering system is operable in a first mode of operation in which the volumetric meter communicates with each singulating meter via the dispersion unit to singulate the plurality of seeds, and

wherein the seed metering system is operable in a second mode of operation in which the volumetric meter communicates with each bypass conduit via the dispersion unit such that the plurality of seeds is not singulated.

2. The seed metering system of claim 1, wherein each row unit further comprises a seed sensor positioned at the outlet and operable to detect the plurality of seeds in the first mode and in the second mode.

3. The seed metering system of claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of row units includes a valve located upstream of the singulating meter and the bypass conduit, and located downstream of the volumetric meter, the valve operable to switch from a first position in the first mode to a second position in the second mode.

4. The seed metering system of claim 3, wherein the valve is located downstream of the dispersion unit.

5. The seed metering system of claim 3, wherein each one of the plurality of row units further comprises a mini-hopper located downstream of the valve and upstream of the singulating meter.

6. The seed metering system of claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of row units further comprises a mini-hopper operably positioned between the dispersion unit and the respective singulating meter.

7. The seed metering system of claim 1, wherein the outlet common to and downstream of the singulating meter and the bypass conduit is configured to discharge seeds to a furrow.

8. The seed metering system of claim 1, further comprising a fan operable to generate an airflow into the inlet of the dispersion unit.

9. The seed metering system of claim 1, wherein each row unit is connected to a different outlet of the plurality of outlets of the dispersion unit.

10. A seed metering system for selectively metering a plurality of seeds, the seed metering system comprising:

a storage tank;

a plurality of row units, wherein each and every one of the plurality of row units comprises

a singulating meter in selective communication with the storage tank,

a bypass conduit in selective communication with the storage tank, and

an outlet that is common to and downstream of the singulating meter and the bypass conduit; and

a dispersion unit including an inlet and a plurality of outlets and operable to disperse the plurality of seeds from the storage tank to the plurality of row units,

wherein the seed metering system is operable in a first mode of operation in which the storage tank communicates with each singulating meter via the dispersion unit to singulate the plurality of seeds, and

wherein the seed metering system is operable in a second mode of operation in which the storage tank communicates with each bypass conduit via the dispersion unit such that the plurality of seeds is not singulated.

11. The seed metering system of claim 10, wherein each row unit further comprises a seed sensor positioned at the outlet and operable to detect the plurality of seeds in the first mode and the second mode.

12. The seed metering system of claim 10, wherein each one of the plurality of row units includes a valve located upstream of the singulating meter and the bypass conduit, and located downstream of the storage tank, the valve operable to switch from a first position in the first mode to a second position in the second mode.

13. The seed metering system of claim 10, wherein each one of the plurality of row units further comprises a mini-hopper operably positioned downstream of the dispersion unit and upstream of the singulating meter.

14. The seed metering system of claim 10, wherein the outlet common to and downstream of the singulating meter and the bypass conduit is configured to discharge seeds to a furrow.