Seed tube for an agricultural planter
First Claim
1. A seed tube for use with an agricultural planter, the seed tube comprising:
- an elongate housing having a front wall, a rear wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall cooperating to define a seed pathway, said housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a substantially straight upper portion and a curvilinear lower portion, said upper portion defining an entrance to said seed pathway and said lower portion defining an exit from said seed pathway, said seed pathway having an asymmetric cross-section taken at said exit of said lower portion in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said housing;
a portion of said front wall extending along said lower portion of said housing having a first partial width portion and a second partial width portion cooperating to define the overall width of said front wall between said first sidewall and said second side wall, said first partial width portion extending between said first sidewall and said second partial width portion, said first partial width portion defining a concave surface extending along said seed pathway and having a first radius of curvature defined from a center, said center of said first radius of curvature being one of on a midline defining a junction between said first partial width portion and said second partial width portion and offset from said midline in the direction of said second side wall;
wherein, if a seed entering the seed tube through said entrance travels through said upper portion of said housing and enters said lower portion of said housing contacting said first partial width portion of said front wall, the seed is rotated into a position in which the seed is substantially entirely positioned within said second partial width portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seed tube having a front wall defining a portion of a seed pathway therethrough and having a concave interior surface having a first radius of curvature. The concave surface may extend only partially across the width of the front wall, such that a portion of the front wall lacks a substantially concave surface. Alternatively, the entirely of the front wall defining a portion of the seed pathway may have a concave surface. In this embodiment, the front wall has an asymmetrical cross-section. For example, a first portion of the concave surface may have a first radius of curvature and a second portion of the concave surface may have a second radius of curvature, with the second radius of curvature being greater than the first radius of curvature.
25 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A seed tube for use with an agricultural planter, the seed tube comprising:
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an elongate housing having a front wall, a rear wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall cooperating to define a seed pathway, said housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a substantially straight upper portion and a curvilinear lower portion, said upper portion defining an entrance to said seed pathway and said lower portion defining an exit from said seed pathway, said seed pathway having an asymmetric cross-section taken at said exit of said lower portion in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said housing; a portion of said front wall extending along said lower portion of said housing having a first partial width portion and a second partial width portion cooperating to define the overall width of said front wall between said first sidewall and said second side wall, said first partial width portion extending between said first sidewall and said second partial width portion, said first partial width portion defining a concave surface extending along said seed pathway and having a first radius of curvature defined from a center, said center of said first radius of curvature being one of on a midline defining a junction between said first partial width portion and said second partial width portion and offset from said midline in the direction of said second side wall; wherein, if a seed entering the seed tube through said entrance travels through said upper portion of said housing and enters said lower portion of said housing contacting said first partial width portion of said front wall, the seed is rotated into a position in which the seed is substantially entirely positioned within said second partial width portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A seed tube for use with an agricultural planter, comprising:
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an elongate housing having a front wall, a rear wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall cooperating to define a seed pathway, said front wall facing forwardly during use of said seed tube in said agricultural planter, said housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a substantially straight upper portion and a curvilinear lower portion, said upper portion defining an entrance to said seed pathway and said lower portion defining an exit from said seed pathway; said seed pathway having an asymmetric cross-section taken at said exit of said lower portion about a mid-line extending though said front and rear walls, said mid-line disposed equidistant from said first and second sidewalls, wherein said front wall and one of said sidewalls together define a first concave surface at said exit of said seed tube. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification