Seed Meter And Seed Disk With Peripheral Edge Seed Pick-Up
First Claim
1. A seed disk for an air pressure seed meter comprising:
- a circular member having a first side, a second side and a peripheral edge, the circular member adapted for rotation about an axis with the peripheral edge in communication with a source of seeds; and
a plurality of passages in said circular member extending from apertures in the peripheral edge of the circular member to openings in the first side of the disk.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seed meter with a flat seed disk with seed apertures on the peripheral edge of the disk results is provided. The seed pick-up on the disk edge enables a more predictable seed trajectory thereby improving the accuracy of seed spacing. With seed pick-up on the disk periphery, the seed reservoir in the meter housing is located rearward of the disk as opposed to the side of the disk, resulting in a narrowing of the meter housing, making it easier to package two meters close together for twin row planting or to lower the meter in the row unit, reducing the seed drop distance. With improved seed placement accuracy, the planter travel speed can be increased. Further efficiency is gained by a vacuum clean-out of the seed meters, reducing the time required to change seed type or variety.
66 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A seed disk for an air pressure seed meter comprising:
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a circular member having a first side, a second side and a peripheral edge, the circular member adapted for rotation about an axis with the peripheral edge in communication with a source of seeds; and a plurality of passages in said circular member extending from apertures in the peripheral edge of the circular member to openings in the first side of the disk. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A seed meter assembly comprising:
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a seed disk having a circular member with a first side, a second side and a peripheral edge, and a plurality of passages in the circular member extending from apertures in the peripheral edge of the circular member to openings in the first side of the disk arranged in a circular array; and a housing in which said seed disk is mounted for rotation about an axis, the housing forming a reservoir for seed through which the peripheral edge of the seed disk rotates and the housing forming an arcuate vacuum channel arranged in juxtaposition to the circular array of openings in the first side of the disk. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A seed meter assembly comprising:
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a seed metering member having a first side and a second side, the metering member including a plurality of passages therein opening to the first side of the metering member in a circular array of openings; and a housing in which said metering member is mounted for rotation about an axis, the housing forming an arcuate vacuum channel arranged in juxtaposition to the circular array of openings in the metering member and adapted to be coupled to a vacuum source, the vacuum channel having radially spaced inner and outer edges and leading and trailing ends in the direction of rotation of the metering member, the leading and trailing ends of the vacuum channel being arranged at an angle to the radial direction.
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15. A seal for an arcuate vacuum chamber of a seed meter housing comprising first and second arcuate segments radially spaced from one another and connected to one another by first and second end segments, the end segments extending in a direction that is inclined to a radial direction defined by the first and second arcuate segments.
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16. A seeding machine comprising:
a seed meter assembly having a seed metering member with a plurality of passages therein and a housing in which said metering member is mounted for rotation about an axis, the housing forming a reservoir to hold a supply of seed in contact with the passages in the metering member as the passages move through the reservoir upon rotation of the metering member, the housing having a vacuum port at a lower end of the reservoir adapted to couple the reservoir to a vacuum source to facilitate removal of seed from the reservoir by vacuum. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A seed meter assembly comprising:
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a seed metering member having apertures for retaining seed thereon; a housing in which said metering member is mounted, the housing forming a reservoir to hold a supply of seed in contact with the apertures in the metering member; and a seed singulator assembly carried by the housing having at least one rotating member engaging the metering member and being in close proximity to the apertures to engage seed adhered to the apertures to remove excess seed therefrom, the at least one wheel being mounted to a carrier that is movably mounted to the housing whereby the wheel follows a surface of the metering member. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification