Seed slide for use in an agricultural seeding machine

• US 7,185,596 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2003
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Thiemke, Daniel B., Valdez, Jose M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson; Victor
• Application Number:
  US10/339,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20040134400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 111/183, 111/184, 111/185, 111/182, 111/181, 111/178, 111/177, 221/211, 221/210, 221/217, 222/225
• US Class Current: 111/185
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/18 Machines for depositing quantities of seed at intervals
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/20 Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed

Abstract

A seeding machine includes at least one seed metering system and at least one seed placement system. Each seed placement system is in communication with a corresponding seed metering system. Each seed placement system includes a seed slide having a bottom end and a seed trough terminating at the bottom end.

Claims

1. A seeding machine, comprising:

at least one seed metering system;

at least one seed placement system, each said seed placement system being in communication with a corresponding said seed metering system, each said seed placement system including a seed slide having a bottom end and a seed trough terminating at said bottom end, said seed slide having a top end, said seed trough not extending to said top end, said seed trough increasing in depth toward said bottom end; and

a rotatable seed velocity regulator positioned in association with said seed slide.

2. The seeding machine of claim 1, wherein said seed slide has a top end, and said seed trough does not extend into said seed slide at said top end and has a maximum depth at said bottom end.

3. The seeding machine of claim 1, wherein said seed trough has a depth of about 5 mm at said bottom end.

4. A seeding machine, comprising:

at least one seed metering system;

at least one seed placement system, each said seed placement system being in communication with a corresponding said seed metering system, each said seed placement system including a seed slide having a bottom end and a seed trough terminating at said bottom end, said seed slide having a generally j-shaped configuration; and

a rotatable seed velocity regulator positioned in association with said seed slide.

5. The seeding machine of claim 4, wherein said seed slide includes two generally linear segments interconnected by an arced segment, one said linear segment defining said bottom end.

6. A seeding machine, comprising:

at least one seed metering system;

at least one seed placement system, each said seed placement system being in communication with a corresponding said seed metering system, each said seed placement system including a seed slide having a bottom end and a seed trough terminating at said bottom end, said seed trough having a generally parabolic shaped cross section at said bottom end; and

a rotatable seed velocity regulator positioned in association with said seed slide.

7. A method of placing seeds with a seeding machine in a trench formed in soil, comprising the steps of:

receiving seeds at a predetermined rate at a seed slide in a seed placement system, said seed slide having a bottom end and a seed trough terminating at said bottom end;

engaging the seeds at the predetermined rate within said seed trough;

imparting a velocity to the seeds by way of a rotatable seed velocity regulator associated with said seed slide, said seed slide extending beyond said rotatable seed velocity regulator; and

guiding the seeds from said seed trough into the trench at a trajectory defined by said seed trough.

8. The method of placing seeds of claim 7, wherein said seed slide has a top end, and said seed trough does not extend to said top end.

9. A method of placing seeds with a seeding machine in a trench formed in soil, comprising the steps of:

receiving seeds at a predetermined rate at a seed slide in a seed placement system, said seed slide having a bottom end and a seed trough terminating at said bottom end, said seed slide having a top end, said seed trough not extending to said top end, said seed trough increasing in depth toward said bottom end;

engaging the seeds at the predetermined rate within said seed trough;

imparting a velocity to the seeds by way of a rotatable seed velocity regulator associated with said seed slide; and

guiding the seeds from said seed trough into the trench at a trajectory defined by said seed trough.

10. A method of placing seeds with a seeding machine in a trench formed in soil, comprising the steps of:

receiving seeds at a predetermined rate at a seed slide in a seed placement system, said seed slide having a bottom end and a seed trough terminating at said bottom end, said seed slide having a generally j-shaped configuration;

engaging the seeds at the predetermined rate within said seed trough;

imparting a velocity to the seeds by way of a rotatable seed velocity regulator associated with said seed slide; and

guiding the seeds from said seed trough into the trench at a trajectory defined by said seed trough.