Seed planter apparatus and method

• US 6,776,108 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.), CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Dunham, Lisle J., Johnson, Donald, Brown, Thomas, Olson, Thomas A., Johnson, Chad M., Berry, Stephen D., Ozers, Guntis, Stufflebeam, John F., Tiedt, Gerald J., Slowinski, David N., Crabb, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US10/388,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20030154892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 111/185, 111/184, 111/183, 111/177, 111/200, 111/900, 221/211, 221/266, 221/264
• US Class Current: 111/185
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/042 using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/0443 Seed singulators
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/046 with perforated seeding discs
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/102 Regulating or controlling the seed rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/90 Methods of planting seeds and miscellaneous compositions

Abstract

A planter apparatus includes a seed meter including a housing assembly with a cover releasably connected to a shell. The housing assembly includes at least one opening formed therein adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly. The disc divides an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber. The disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc. The planter apparatus may also include a singulator assembly having rotatably spools, a rotatable chute door, a disc having clusters of openings for simultaneous release, and a one-piece baffle.

Claims

1. A method of operating a seed planter apparatus comprising:

providing a housing assembly including a cover releasably connected to a shell, the housing assembly including at least one opening in the housing assembly adjacent a seed discharge area, a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly, the disc dividing an interior of the housing assembly to provide a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber, the disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc, wherein the seed disc openings are grouped in a plurality of clusters of openings, each cluster of openings including a plurality of communicating openings which communicate with the vacuum chamber, allowing seeds to be held by differential pressure within the seed disc openings;

rotating the disc to rotate the clusters of openings into and out of communication with the vacuum chamber;

holding seeds in the seed disc openings while the seed disc openings is rotated into communication with the vacuum chamber;

releasing the seeds from the seed disc openings as the seed disc openings are rotated out of communication with the vacuum chamber, wherein releasing the seeds includes exposing at least one cluster of openings to atmospheric pressure;

flowing air through the opening in the housing assembly to promote the release of seeds from the disc; and

releasing seeds from a given cluster of openings substantially simultaneously.

2. A seed planter apparatus comprising:

a seed meter including a chute portion, a vacuum chamber, a seed chamber, and a seed disc, the seed disc including a plurality of spaced apart clusters of openings, each of the clusters of openings including a plurality of communicating openings to allow seeds held by differential pressure within the openings of each cluster to release the seeds as a given cluster of openings is rotated out of communication with the vacuum chamber; and

a hopper operatively connected to and communicate with said chute portion, said chute portion including a first opening for receiving, seed from said hopper.

3. The seed planter apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the seed disc comprises an aliphatic polykeptone.

4. The seed planter apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising:

a bar extending from said chute portion; and

said chute includes a second opening, wherein said bar extends in overlying relationship with said second opening of said chute portion.

5. The seed planter apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising a door covering said second opening of said chute portion.

6. The seed planter apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said door includes a clip portion for snap-fitting said door onto said bar.