Row unit for a planter, planter and method for planting

• US 9,137,941 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2011
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vaderstad holding ab
• Original Assignee: Vaderstad-Verken AB
• Inventors: Stark, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US13/636,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20130118393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 111163-169, 111/157, 111/149, 111189-196, 111134-137, 111/174, 111/170, 111/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/04 Single-grain seeders with or without suction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/082 Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/206 Seed pipes

Abstract

A precision seeder for sowing seeds to obtain a predetermined number of plants per unit of length includes a seed discharging tube adapted to feed the seed by an excess air pressure from a seed distributing device to a seed outlet, a seed furrow opener including two sowing discs arranged at an angle relative to each other, and a resilient press surface for pressing the seed into the soil. The press surface is configured such that a direction of flow of the seeds at the seed outlet intersects or is substantially tangent to at least a portion of the press surface. The seed outlet is located between the sowing discs and, as seen in the transverse direction, inside or immediately adjacent to the periphery of at least one of the sowing discs.

Claims

1. A row unit for precision sowing of seeds to obtain a predetermined number of plants per unit of length, comprising:

a seed distribution device adapted to feed single seeds from a seed hopper;

a seed discharging tube adapted to feed the seed by an excess air pressure from the seed distribution device to a seed outlet, the seed being forced throughout the seed discharging tube by the excess air pressure;

a seed furrow opener, comprising two sowing discs arranged at an angle relative to each other; and

a resilient press surface for pressing the seed into the soil;

wherein the press surface is configured such that a direction of flow of the seeds at the seed outlet intersects or is substantially tangent to at least a portion of the press surface; and

the seed outlet is located between the sowing discs and, as seen in the transverse direction, entirely inside the periphery of at least one of the sowing discs.

2. A row unit according to claim 1, wherein the seed outlet, as seen in a plane perpendicular to the direction of flow of the seeds, has substantially a same cross section as the seed discharging tube.

3. A row unit according to claim 1, wherein the whole of the seed outlet is located in front of a vertical plane that is tangent to one of the sowing discs and perpendicular to a main operating direction of the row unit.

4. A row unit according to claim 1, wherein the seed outlet is located at a distance from a horizontal plane that is tangent to a lower edge of one of the sowing discs.

5. A row unit according to claim 1, wherein the seed outlet is configured such that the direction of flow of the seeds at the seed outlet is at least 45degrees relative to a vertical plane, at least 60 degrees relative to the vertical plane, or at least 75 degrees relative to the vertical plane.

6. A row unit according to claim 1, wherein the press surface is formed by a press wheel.

7. A row unit according to claim 6, wherein the press wheel includes a press part and at least one side wall, a material thickness of the at least one side wall being smaller than a material thickness of the press part, or approximately 20% smaller, or approximately 30% smaller, or approximately 40% smaller, or approximately 50% smaller.

8. A row unit according to claim 1, wherein the press surface is formed by a substantially rigid body, which is connected to the precision seeder by a spring element.

9. A row unit according to claim 1, wherein the press surface is formed by an elastically resilient body.

10. A row unit according to claim 1, wherein the seed discharging tube comprises a substantially straight portion, whose length is greater than a radius of at least one of the sowing discs.

11. A row unit according to claim 10, wherein the straight portion is substantially vertical.

12. A row unit according to claim 1, wherein the seed distribution device is integrated with the row unit.

13. A precision seeder comprising at least two row units according to claim 1.

14. A precision seeder comprising:

at least two row units according to claim 1; and

a seed distribution device configured to feed seeds to both row units.

15. A method for precision sowing of seeds to obtain a predetermined number of plants per unit of length, comprising:

feeding single seeds from a seed hopper by a seed distribution device;

feeding the seed by an excess air pressure via a seed discharging tube from the seed distribution device to a seed outlet, the seed being forced throughout the seed discharging tube by the excess air pressure;

opening a seed furrow by a seed furrow opener, comprising two sowing discs arranged at an angle relative to each other; and

pressing the seed into the soil by a resilient press surface,

wherein the seeds are fed through the seed outlet such that a direction of flow of the seed at the seed outlet intersects or is substantially tangent to at least a portion of the press surface; and

the seeds are discharged from the seed outlet at a position between the sowing discs and, as seen in the transverse direction, entirely inside the periphery of at least one of the sowing discs.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the seed furrow is formed essentially exclusively by the seed furrow opener.