PNEUMATIC SOYBEAN SEED METER

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to precision agriculture. More specifically, the disclosure relates to systems for metering and distributing seeds in planting fields. The disclosure refers to a pneumatic seed metering device that provides an optimized seed distribution for soybean planting. The meter releases the soybean seeds by vacuum cutting and letting the seeds fall by gravity. A seed disk is equipped with a plurality of seed holes spaced radially along a seed passage region, and the seed disk drive is performed at a peripheral region of the seed disk. The plurality of seed holes are arranged in a single row with a distance between two consecutive seed holes being in a range of 2.1 to 3.5 times the diameter of one of the seed holes, the diameter of the holes being defined in a range of 3.5 to 4.5 mm.

Claims

1. A pneumatic soybean seed meter that releases the soybean seeds by vacuum cutting and letting the seeds fall by gravity action, comprising: a seed disk including a plurality of seed holes radially spaced along a seed path region, the seed disk being driven by a peripheral region of the seed disk, wherein: the plurality of seed holes are arranged in a single row; two consecutive seed holes of the plurality of seed holes are spaced apart by a distance in a range of 2.1 to 3.5 times the diameter of one of the seed holes; and the diameter of each seed hole of the plurality of seed holes is in a range of 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm.

2. The pneumatic soybean seed meter of claim 1, further comprising a seed singulator coupled to the seed disk.

3. The pneumatic soybean seed meter of claim 2, wherein the seed singulator is a floating-type precision seed singulator that is interdependent with respect to the seed disk.

4. The pneumatic soybean seed meter of claim 1, wherein rotation of the seed disk rotation maintains a coefficient of variation level of less than about 42% at rotational speeds above 50 RPM.

5. The pneumatic soybean seed meter of claim 1, wherein the rotation operational range of the seed disk is up to 100 RPM.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The objectives, advantages, technical and functional improvements of embodiments of the present disclosure will be better understood from the reading of the descriptions of their particular achievements, made below in relation to the attached figures, which illustrate ways of particular achievements, and not limiting, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a seed meter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a seed meter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a front view of a seed meter with the lid open according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a seed meter with an open lid according to a realization of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a front view of a seed disk according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a seed disk according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 7 shows a top sectional view of a disk with a rail-guided singulator system;

[0037] FIG. 8 shows a front view of a seed disk with a system of singulators supported on the shoulder of the seed disk;

[0038] FIG. 9 shows a top sectional view of a disk with a singulator system supported on the shoulder of the seed disk;

[0039] FIG. 10 shows the interaction of the singulators with the seed disk holes;

[0040] FIG. 11 shows a representation of the variation in seed distribution in the soil using a prior art single row seed disk;

[0041] FIG. 12 shows a representation of the variation in seed distribution in the soil with the use of a seed disk according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0042] FIG. 13 shows a representation of the variation in seed distribution in the soil using a prior art double row seed disk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The present disclosure is now described with respect to its particular achievements, making reference to the attached figures. In the following figures and description, similar parts are marked with the same reference numbers. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, i.e., certain features of the present disclosure may be shown with exaggeration of scale or in some schematic way, as well as details of conventional elements may not be shown in order to illustrate this description more clearly and concisely. The present disclosure is susceptible to the embodiments in different ways. Specific embodiments are described in detail and shown in the figures, with the understanding that the description is to be regarded as an exemplification of the principles disclosed herein, and is not intended to be limited to only what is illustrated and described in this disclosure. It must be recognized that the different teachings of the achievements discussed below may be employed separately or in any suitable combination to produce the same technical effects.

[0044] The present disclosure will be described hereinafter particularly with respect to pneumatic seed meters 1 for planting soybeans, also referred to below as seed meter 1 or simply meter 1. Although functional for other crops (such as beans and corn), the present disclosure has an especially superior performance for soybeans due to the dynamics provided by the more rounded shape of the legume seeds and by the eventual greater rotation of the disks when planting soybeans due to high quantities, higher speeds, and the inter-row spacing normally used with the crop.

[0045] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a pneumatic seed meter 1 in its assembled and closed form according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Although FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate specific and preferred aspects of a meter, the present disclosure can be applied to other pneumatic meter patterns.

[0046] Although the dimensions of the meters 1 may vary considerably between different brands and models, the present disclosure can be applied to the most varied dispensers known on the market while maintaining the same efficiency, since the main features of the present disclosure are related to features of seed disk 2, seed disk 2 drive system, and precision singulators.

[0047] Some of the characteristics of the seed disks 2 of the present disclosure can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which the seed disk 2 has seed holes 3 and an outer shoulder 5, being illustrated mounted inside the seed meter 1 with the 8 cover open.

[0048] When operating a seed meter 1 with high rotational speeds of seed disk 2, small disturbances can negatively influence the quality of seed distribution in large proportions. Thus, some precision items, such as the singulators and the means for activating the seed disk 2, are important to reduce (e.g., avoid or minimize) disturbances in the dosage of seeds and ensure the correct functioning of embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0049] In the case of singulators, the use of singulators with low precision or that are improperly adjusted starts to improperly remove the seeds from the holes as soon as the seed disk 2 reaches high rotations.

[0050] Thus, the present disclosure provides for the use of seed singulator systems 4 (FIGS. 5-10) that ensure the proper positioning of the seed singulators 4 on the seed disks 2, in particular with respect to the arrangement of the singulators 4 over the holes 3.

[0051] Such singulators 4 are called “precision singulators” and work through mechanisms that keep the singulators in a constant position relative to the seed disk 2. More specifically, the precision seed singulators 4 are floating and interdependent with respect to seed disk 2, that is, the precision singulators follow the movement of seed disk 2, so there is no relative movement per se, only of rotation of the seed disk under the singulators.

[0052] Advantageously, the precision seed singulators 4 do not need manual adjustments as the positioning mechanisms automatically adjust the position of the singulators 4 in relation to the seed disks 2. This feature is especially useful for seed meters 1 that can work from 15 RPM to up to 100 RPM, since the dynamics of seed disk rotation can considerably vary the interaction of singulators with seeds depending on increasing rotational speed of the seed disk.

[0053] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the seed disk 2 is associated with one of the types of precision seed singulators 4, which guarantees the accuracy of the positioning of the singulators by means of a positioning system with a ring 7 and rail 6.

[0054] The precision positioning system with ring 7 and rail 6 is composed of an upper part of the ring 7.1 and a lower part of the ring 7.2, which fit onto the seed disk 2 and surround at least a peripheral region of the seed disk 2. Further, the lower part of the ring 7.1 comprises an inner rail 6 that fits into a recess 9 in the seed disk and ensures that the seed disk 2 and the ring 7 move in solidarity to provide precise positioning of the singulators over the holes 3 in the seed disk 2, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0055] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrated in FIG. 8, the precision system for positioning the singulators 4 over the holes 3 is formed by a set of singulators 4 supported on the shoulder 5 of the seed disk 2 and is held in position by means of springs or other mechanisms that direct and maintain the singulator sets 4 resting on the shoulder 5 of the seed disk 2. In this realization, the singulators 4 are not mounted relative to the seed disk 2, but show good accuracy since, although mobile relative to the seed disk 2, they are directed against the shoulder 5 of the seed disk 2 to keep the tip of the singulators 4 positioned over the seed holes 3. FIG. 10 shows in more detail the positioning of the singulators 4 in relation to the holes 3 of the seed disk 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0056] Regarding the means of driving seed disk 2, it is also helpful to use precision systems to obtain uniform rotation of seed disk 2.

[0057] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a drive means (not shown) coupled to the peripheral region of the seed disk 2 is used. In this embodiment, the seed disk 2 is pulled by a toothed edge by means of a motor or other source of mechanical energy.

[0058] In a more specific embodiment of the present disclosure, with an arrangement of seed holes (3) spaced apart with a distance of 3.1 times the diameter of 4.0 mm of the seed holes, the capture and release of the seeds in high rotations (above 50 RPM) is optimized. Under the same conditions of planter speed and seed disk 2 rotation, variations in the number of holes for fewer holes tend to worsen seed capture and variations in the number of holes for more holes tend to worsen seed release.

[0059] In field tests with disks rotated by the periphery and with precision singulators, endowed with varying amounts and configurations of holes, working at high speed (e.g., above 50 RPM) it was found that a disk according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, endowed with a single row with forty holes spaced apart by 3.1 times the diameter of the holes present better distribution of soybean seeds than a conventional disk of the same size and single row with fifty-five holes, as illustrated in the representations of seed distribution in the FIGS. 11 and 12. The performance difference was much less expressive or null, with the absence of precision singulators and actuation by the periphery or at low rotational speeds of less than 50 RPM.

[0060] Also in field tests, the 40-hole disk, as an embodiment of the present disclosure, also showed better seed distribution results than a double-row disk of equivalent dimensions under equal seed population conditions, as can be seen in comparison between FIGS. 12 and 13.

[0061] Furthermore, in tests with speed variations using a disk according to a realization of the present disclosure, it was found that in the rotational speed range from 0 to 50 RPM, a subtle improvement can be observed in relation to the distribution of seeds obtained in the state of the art, and with speeds of 50 to 100 RPM the result is far superior.

[0062] In particular, a disk of 40 holes in a single row, with 4.0 mm holes spaced 12.3 mm apart, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is able to plant, still with quality, 30 soybean seeds per meter in a planter with speed of 8 km/h and disk rotation at 100 RPM, with a peripheral drive and precision singulators. Under these planting conditions (30 soybean seeds per meter at 8 km/h), a seed disk with multiple rows would result in a very high CV, with a high incidence of failures and doubles in the seed distribution in the soil. The absence of periphery drive and precision singulators, even with a 40-hole disk, would also result in poorer performance.

[0063] Therefore, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the soybean seed metering concepts of the present disclosure are able to eliminate or at least reduce the limitations of technologies known in the prior art. Since there has recently been a demand for better spatial distribution of soybean seeds in the planting furrow, due to improvements in soybean productivity, especially due to its genetic evolution.

[0064] In addition, one of the potential advantages of the present disclosure is to provide a seed meter that provides a linear distribution of seeds even with high planter movement speeds, a recent trend that causes high rotations of the meter disks.

[0065] Still, another potential advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a seed disk that allows the distribution of seeds with quality and in sufficient quantity to meet the demand of planters with high speeds, which cause high rotations of the metering disks.

[0066] It is also a potential advantage of the present disclosure to provide an optimized relationship between the size and arrangement of holes in the seed disk in order to provide a metering system that supports high seed disk rotational speeds with seed distribution quality.

[0067] Another potential advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a seed meter with optimized dimensions to improve the capture and release of seeds at high rotations.

[0068] It is also a potential advantage of the present disclosure to provide a meter that provides a quality distribution of soybean seeds, where with only one disk model this same great performance can be achieved at low, medium and high rotational speeds of the soybean planting disk, simplifying the operation thereof.

[0069] Another potential advantage of the present disclosure providing a distribution of seeds with higher rotations and with a quality equal or superior to what conventional systems deliver. This allows the disks to be smaller. Consequently, the meters can be smaller, which facilitates and saves cost in manufacturing.

[0070] More specifically, pneumatic meters are generally made of polymeric materials that, when used in the production of reduced size elements, present greater dimensional stability and material savings. In other words, the manufacture of smaller meters makes its components suffer less deformation and warping, in addition to being cheaper because they use less raw material.

[0071] Furthermore, it is a potential advantage of the present disclosure to provide subsidies for an easier and more accurate manufacture of the meters, as the greater the capacity to support high speeds of disk rotation with quality soybean seed distribution, the smaller the possible construction diameter of the meter. This may optimize the quality of the manufacturing, as you can have greater dimensional control.

[0072] Thus, the present disclosure has advantages in relation to the state of the art and contributes to the technological development of the agricultural sector, especially for precision soybean planting.

[0073] Although the present disclosure has been specifically described in relation to particular achievements, it should be understood that variations and modifications will be evident to technicians in the subject matter and can be done without departing from the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Consequently, the scope of protection is not limited to the achievements described, but is limited only by the attached claims, the scope of which must include all equivalents.