Seed metering system and method of operating the same

• US 10,653,056 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2017
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Garner, Elijah B., Wolfs, Beth A., Pearson, Nathaniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US15/857,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20180116101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 111177
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/005 Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/062 Devices for making drills or furrows
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/04 Single-grain seeders with or without suction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/046 with perforated seeding discs
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/082 Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/105 Seed sensors

Abstract

A seed metering system includes a seed tank including a seed tank outlet, and a number of row units. Each and every row unit of the number of row units comprises a singulating meter in selective communication with the seed tank outlet, a bypass conduit in selective communication with the seed tank outlet, and an outlet. The seed metering system further includes a volumetric metering system positioned upstream of the number of row units and operable to volumetrically meter the plurality of seeds. The seed metering system is operable in a first mode of operation in which the seed tank outlet communicates with each singulating meter via the volumetric metering system to singulate the plurality of seeds. The seed metering system is operable in a second mode of operation in which the seed tank outlet communicates with each bypass conduit via the volumetric metering system and seeds are not singulated.

Claims

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

a seed tank including a seed tank outlet;

a number of row units, wherein each and every row unit of the number of row units comprises;

a singulating meter in selective communication with the seed tank outlet,

a bypass conduit in selective communication with the seed tank outlet, and

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

a volumetric metering system positioned upstream of the number of row units and operable to volumetrically meter the plurality of seeds,

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

wherein the seed metering system is operable in a second mode of operation in which the seed tank outlet communicates with each bypass conduit via the volumetric metering system and seeds are not singulated.

2. The seed metering system of claim 1, wherein each row unit further comprising a valve assembly operable to selectively communicate the singulating meter and the bypass conduit with the seed tank.

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

4. The seed metering system of claim 1, wherein each row unit further comprises a seed sensor at the outlet, the seed sensor configured to detect seeds from the singulating meter and the bypass conduit.

5. The seed metering system of claim 1, wherein the bypass conduit of each row unit further includes an air brake.

6. The seed metering system of claim 1, wherein the singulating meter of each row unit further includes a singulating meter housing and a singulating disk located within the housing, and wherein during the first mode and the second mode seeds are directed through the housing.

7. The seed metering system of claim 1, wherein the number of row units includes all row units communicable with the seed tank.

8. A secondary metering system for a seeding apparatus, the seeding apparatus including a volumetric metering system through which seeds pass, the secondary metering system comprising:

a first path through which seeds are configured to pass, the first path extending from the volumetric metering system and including a singulating meter located in a housing, the singulating meter in selective communication with the volumetric metering system, the first path passing through the housing for singulation of seeds; and

a second path through which seeds are configured to pass, the second path extending from the volumetric metering system and including a bypass conduit in selective communication with the volumetric metering system, the second path passing through the housing and bypassing singulation by the singulating meter.

9. The secondary metering system of claim 8, further comprising a control system operable to disconnect one of the first path or the second path to the volumetric metering system and to connect the other of the first path and the second path to the volumetric metering system.

10. The secondary metering system of claim 9, wherein the control system is a three-way valve assembly.

11. The secondary metering system of claim 8, further including an outlet common to and downstream of the first path and the second path.

12. The secondary metering system of claim 11, further comprising a seed sensor positioned at the outlet and configured to detect seeds.

13. The secondary metering system of claim 8, wherein the singulating meter includes a singulating disk located within the housing, the housing comprising a first inlet for directing seeds to the singulating disk, a second inlet for directing seeds from the bypass conduit, and a common outlet.

14. The secondary metering system of claim 13, wherein the common outlet is configured to disperse seeds in a furrow.

15. A singulating meter comprising:

a housing;

a singulating disk positioned within the housing and operable to singulate a plurality of seeds;

a first seed path through the housing, wherein the first seed path permits singulation of the plurality of seeds;

a second seed path through the housing, wherein the second seed path precludes singulation of seeds; and

a control system operable to disconnect one of the first path or the second path to a volumetric metering system and to connect the other of the first path and the second path to the volumetric metering system.

16. The singulating meter of claim 15, wherein the control system is a three-way valve assembly.

17. The singulating meter of claim 15, further including an outlet common to and downstream of the first path and the second path.

18. The singulating meter of claim 17, further comprising a seed sensor positioned at the outlet and operable to detect seeds.

19. The singulating meter of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a first inlet for the first seed path configured to direct seeds to the singulating disk, a second inlet for the second seed path, and a common outlet.

20. The singulating meter of claim 19, wherein the common outlet is configured to disperse the plurality of seeds in a furrow.