Method and Apparatus for Planting Seed Crops

• US 20150107503A1
• Filed: 10/21/2013
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Billy R. Masten, Gaylen R. Stukey, Leland P. Stukey
• Original Assignee: Billy R. Masten, Gaylen R. Stukey, Leland P. Stukey
• Inventors: Masten, Billy R., Stukey, Gaylen R., Stukey, Leland P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/193
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/027 with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/00 Methods of fertilising , sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/066 Devices for covering drills or furrows
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/205 comprising pressure regulation means

Abstract

A process and apparatus for controlling the moisture content of soil deposited in a furrow during seed planting comprises tilling the soil to an adjustable depth to expose soil corresponding to a reference soil moisture setting, selecting covering soil from the exposed soil having a moisture content that matches the moisture content of the reference soil moisture setting, and depositing the covering soil over the seed.

Claims

1. A process for controlling the moisture content of soil deposited in a furrow during seed planting using a planter having an adjustable coulter, at least one ploughshare, and first and second closing discs, comprising the steps of:

initially tilling the soil with said coulter to an adjustable depth to expose soil corresponding to a reference soil moisture setting;

selecting covering soil with said first and second closing discs from said exposed soil having a moisture content that matches the moisture content of said reference soil moisture setting; and

depositing said covering soil into said furrow over said seed using said first and second closing discs.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the step of tilling said soil comprises the step of:

pulling said coulter along the surface of said soil such that said coulter cuts into said soil to said adjustable depth, cutting and loosening said soil.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

after the initially tilling step forming a furrow in said soil with said at least one ploughshare disc to a preset depth appropriate to the seed to be planted.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

controlling said adjustable depth according to the difference between a measured soil moisture and said reference soil moisture setting.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the step of controlling includes the step of:

measuring the soil conductivity of said exposed soil; and

comparing said measured soil conductivity with said reference soil conductivity.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein the step of measuring comprises the steps of:

connecting an input circuit of a current sensing circuit between said first and second closing discs to measure soil conductivity wherein said first and second closing discs are electrically isolated from said planter; and

setting said reference soil conductivity value corresponding to a desired soil moisture content to enable said current sensing circuit to develop a control output.

7. The process of claim 5, wherein the step of measuring comprises the steps of:

connecting an input circuit of a current sensing circuit between an isolated one of said discs and said chassis of said planter to measure soil conductivity; and

setting said reference soil conductivity value corresponding to a desired soil moisture content to enable said current sensing circuit to develop a control output.

8. The process of claim 4, wherein the step of controlling further comprises the steps of:

setting a control to a level corresponding to said reference soil conductivity; and

sending a control output signal to an actuator to adjust said coulter if said measured soil conductivity differs from said setting of said reference soil conductivity.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the step of sending comprises the step of:

adjusting said coulter upward if said measured soil conductivity exceeds said reference setting.

10. The process of claim 8, wherein the step of sending comprises the step of:

adjusting said coulter downward if said measured soil conductivity is less than said reference setting.

11. The process of claim 8, wherein the step of sending comprises the step of:

holding said coulter in position if said measured soil conductivity is substantially equal to said reference setting.

12. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of holding comprises the step of:

braking said actuator with equal and opposite control signals to maintain its position.

13. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

covering seed planted in said furrow with soil exposed in said tilling step and having said desired moisture content.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein the step of covering comprises the step of:

permitting said furrow closing discs to push said soil exposed from said tilling step back into said furrow after planting said seed.

15. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

packing said soil over said furrow after covering said seed with soil having said desired moisture content.

16. During operation of a planter implement having at least one coulter disc, an adjustable ploughshare, a seed dispensing device, and first and second furrow closing discs disposed along a common chassis, an improved process for planting seed, comprising the steps of:

associating a desired soil moisture content for germinating seed with a reference soil conductivity;

loosening soil to an adjustable depth with said at least one coulter disc;

creating a furrow to a preset planting depth with said ploughshare and planting said seed in said furrow;

measuring the conductivity of said soil between said first and second furrow closing discs;

controlling said adjustable depth corresponding to said reference soil conductivity; and

covering seed planted in said furrow with soil from said loosening step having said desired moisture content.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein the step of loosening soil comprises the step of:

pulling said coulter along the surface of said soil such that said coulter cuts into said soil to said adjustable depth, cutting and loosening said soil.

18. The process of claim 16, wherein the steps of creating a furrow comprises the step of:

forming a furrow in said exposed soil.

19. The process of claim 16, wherein the planting and covering steps comprise the steps of:

depositing at least one seed in said furrow; and

closing said furrow with soil exposed during said loosening step.

20. The process of claim 16, wherein the step of measuring comprises the steps of:

measuring a current sensed by a sensing circuit coupled between an isolated one of said first and second furrow closing discs and said chassis of said planter to measure soil conductivity; and

setting said reference soil conductivity value corresponding to a desired soil moisture content to enable said sensing circuit to develop a control output.

21. The process of claim 16, wherein the step of measuring comprises the steps of:

isolating one of said first and second furrow closing discs from said chassis;

connecting a current sensing circuit coupled between each of said closing discs to measure soil conductivity; and

setting said reference soil conductivity value corresponding to a desired soil moisture content to enable said sensing circuit to develop a control output.

22. The process of claim 16, wherein the step of measuring comprises the steps of:

isolating said first and second furrow closing discs from said chassis;

connecting a current sensing circuit coupled between each of said first and second furrow closing discs to measure soil conductivity; and

setting said reference soil conductivity value corresponding to a desired soil moisture content to enable said sensing circuit to develop a control output.

23. The process of claim 16, wherein the step of controlling comprises the step of:

sending a control output signal to an actuator to raise said coulter disc or discs if said soil conductivity is greater than said reference setting.

24. The process of claim 16 wherein the step of controlling comprises the step of:

sending a control output signal to an actuator to lower said coulter disc or discs if said soil conductivity is less than said reference setting.

25. The process of claim 16, wherein the step of controlling comprises the step of:

applying a brake signal to an actuator to maintain the height of said coulter disc or discs if said soil conductivity is substantially equal to said reference setting.

26. Apparatus for covering seed dispensed into a furrow with soil selected according to its moisture content, comprising:

a planter chassis;

a coulter adjustable to excavate a soil surface along a path to a depth corresponding to a soil moisture setting and depositing said excavated soil adjacent said path;

a control circuit responsive to said soil moisture setting for adjusting said coulter to said depth; and

a covering member assembly for urging soil excavated by said coulter and having a soil moisture content approximately equal to said soil moisture setting over said seed;

wherein

said coulter, control circuit, and covering member assembly are supported by said planter chassis.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

an actuator coupled to said coulter to adjust said coulter responsive to at least one control signal output by said control circuit.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said actuator is a gear motor controlled by said at least one control signal from said control circuit.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said coulter comprises at least one coulter disc for excavating said soil.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said control circuit comprises:

first and second electrodes coupled to first and second inputs of a comparator, said comparator generating an output signal proportional to a difference between either of said first and second inputs and a reference corresponding with said soil moisture setting.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said control circuit comprises:

a drive circuit for adjusting said coulter to said depth responsive to said output signal from said comparator.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said control circuit comprises:

first and second electrodes coupled to first and second inputs of a microcontroller, said microcontroller having an A/D convertor for processing said inputs and a comparison mechanism for generating an output signal proportional to a difference between either of said first and second inputs and a reference corresponding with said soil moisture setting.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said control circuit comprises:

a drive circuit for adjusting said coulter to said depth responsive to said output signal from said microcontroller.

34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said covering member assembly comprises:

an assembly of first and second covering discs disposed in a fixed, following relationship with said coulter.

35. the apparatus of claim 34, wherein:

said first and second covering discs are respectively connected to first and second inputs of said control circuit, to function respectively as first and second soil moisture electrodes.

36. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said covering member assembly comprises:

an assembly of first and second covering discs disposed in a fixed, following relationship with said coulter; and

at least one of said first and second covering discs is electrically isolated from said planter chassis.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

said first and second covering discs are respectively connected to first and second inputs of said control circuit, to function respectively as first and second soil moisture electrodes.

38. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said covering member assembly comprises:

an assembly of first and second covering discs disposed in a fixed, following relationship with said coulter; and

said first and second covering discs are electrically isolated from said planter chassis.

39. the apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

said first and second covering discs are respectively connected to first and second inputs of said control circuit, to function respectively as first and second soil moisture electrodes.