AGRICULTURAL SOWING IMPLEMENT

Abstract

An agricultural sowing implement that, when moved by a drive unit, distributes seeds in the ground with regular, uniform spacing. The agricultural sowing implement comprises a rocker system placed behind the chassis of the implement where a seed dispenser is positioned. The rocker system may include a beam connected to two depth-limiting wheels on the ends of the beam. In one embodiment of the disclosure, provision is made for two interlinked smaller wheels connected to a central lower extension of the beam, the set of wheels being encircled by a rolling band. In addition, provision is made for two dampers, one for each of the depth-limiting wheels.

Claims

1. An agricultural sowing implement including a chassis, a cutting disk, a seed meter, and a seed conductor, the agricultural sowing implement comprising: at least a rocker system associated with the chassis, wherein the rocker system comprises two depth-limiting wheels at ends of the rocker system, each wheel of the two depth-limiting wheels being connected to a damper.

2. (canceled)

3. The agricultural sowing implement of claim 1, wherein the seed meter is placed out of alignment in relation to the longitudinal axis of the chassis of the agricultural sowing implement.

4. The agricultural sowing implement of claim 3, wherein the seed conductor is curved, and wherein the seed conductor is configured such that seeds entering the seed conductor, after exiting the meter, will travel through the curve of the seed conductor.

5. A seed meter for the agricultural sowing implement of claim 1, comprising a seed disk and a ring, and further comprising a positioning device placed adjacent to a seed output opening of the ring above the seed disk.

6. The seed meter of claim 5, wherein a lower portion of the positioning device is provided with bristles.

7. The seed meter of claim 5, wherein a lower part of the positioning device is provided with pins.

8. An agricultural sowing implement including a chassis, a cutting disk, a seed meter, and a seed conductor, the agricultural sowing implement comprising: at least a rocker system associated with the chassis, wherein the rocker system comprises two depth-limiting wheels at ends of the rocker system, the depth-limiting wheels being surrounded by a rolling band.

9. The agricultural sowing implement of claim 8, wherein the rocker system further comprises two smaller wheels interconnected and arranged between the two depth-limiting wheels.

10. The agricultural sowing implement of claim 8, wherein the seed meter is placed out of alignment in relation to a longitudinal axis of the chassis of the agricultural sowing implement.

11. The agricultural sowing implement of claim 8, wherein the seed conductor is curved, and wherein the seed conductor is configured such that seeds entering the seed conductor, after exiting the meter, travel through the curve of the seed conductor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is an upper view illustrating the agricultural sowing implement with the rocker in one embodiment of this disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a side view of the agricultural sowing implement of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in a planting line;

[0025] FIG. 3 is an upper view illustrating a modality of the agricultural sowing implement with a rolling band system in one embodiment of this disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a side view of the agricultural sowing implement of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in a planting line;

[0027] FIGS. 5 and 6 are detailed upper views of the seed meter of the agricultural sowing implement, illustrating the dropping of seeds into the seed conductor nozzle;

[0028] FIG. 7 is an upper view illustrating a modality of the agricultural sowing implement with a seed meter in a new position in one embodiment of this disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 8 is an upper view illustrating the seed's exit from the seed meter of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 of this disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 9 is a side view of the agricultural sowing implement of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 in a planting line;

[0031] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the seed meter of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 of this disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 11 is an upper view of the seed meter of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 of this disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 12 is a side view of the modality of the seed meter of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 of this disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 13 is a detailed side view of another modality of the seed meter of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 of this disclosure; and

[0035] FIG. 14 is a detailed side view of a prior art seed meter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] As shown in the attached figures, the AGRICULTURAL SOWING IMPLEMENT is moved by a motor unit, and as shown in FIG. 1, it is made up of a rocker system placed behind the implement chassis (1) where a seed meter (2) is placed, the rocker system comprising a beam (3) connected to two depth-limiting wheels (4) at the ends, each wheel being connected to a damper (5). The agricultural implement also covers a cutting disk (6) connected to the chassis (1), the seed meter (2) comprising a disk (7) that has a plurality of orifices and a ring (8) provided with an opening through which the seeds (9) exit the meter and are dropped into a seed conductor (10).

[0037] In one modality of the disclosure, the rocker system is comprised of two smaller interconnected wheels (11) that are connected to a central lower extension of the beam (3), and the wheel set (4, 11) is surrounded by a rolling band (12), as shown in FIG. 4.

[0038] The structural arrangement of the rocker system of this disclosure causes the shaking of the depth-limiting wheels (4) caused by soil irregularities being absorbed, equalizing the vertical movement of the agricultural implement during sowing, reducing its vibrations and oscillations. In this way, the seeds (9) are not de-stabilized during their trajectory to the soil, exiting the seed meter (2) and passing through the seed conductor (10). The arrow in FIG. 1 on the chassis (1) indicates the machine's direction of movement, that is, the direction of planting, and the other arrow indicates the direction of seed meter (2) rotation.

[0039] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate in detail the moment at which the seed leaves the seed meter (2) and is dropped into the seed conductor (10).

[0040] In one embodiment of the disclosure, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the seed meter (2) is placed out of alignment with respect to the longitudinal axis of the agricultural implement's chassis (1). In this way, the center of the seed meter (2) is out of alignment relative to the longitudinal axis of the seed line, and the seed drop point (9′) is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the seed line. Therefore, the direction of the curve that the seed (9) makes when leaving the meter (2) to reach the ground coincides with the direction of the planter, but in opposite directions, and the direction of the curve that the seed (9) makes when leaving the meter (2) to the ground coincides with the direction of the curve of the seed conductor (10). As can be seen in FIG. 9, the coincidence between the curve that the seed makes after leaving the meter (2) and the curve of the seed conductor (10), causes a dropping of seeds with a backward curve, forming the seed path to the conductor's shape, which also bends back, significantly reducing the probability of a seed conductor shock, which greatly improves the seed distribution quality in the planting groove.

[0041] In another modality of the disclosure, the seed meter (2) is comprised of a positioning device (13) placed adjacent the seed drop point (9′) of the ring (8), above the disk (7), with bristles (14) or pins (15) being provided at the bottom of the device (13). As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the positioning device (13) has the purpose of promoting a slight top-down pressure on the seeds (9) in order to keep them pressed against the back of the orifices of the disk (7), rotating them until they exit the meter (2), promoting seed stability in the moving disk. In this way, the seeds (9) exit the meter (2) more regularly, falling evenly into the conductor (10), and consequently onto the ground.

[0042] The rocker system of this disclosure minimizes the agricultural implement's vertical vibrations that come from soil irregularities, which are transmitted to the seed meter, providing better distribution of the seeds in the planting grooves.

[0043] The new positioning of the seed meter of the disclosure provides a better outlet and dropping of seeds into the conductor, therefore easing seed ricochet against the conductor wall.

[0044] The seed meter positioning device of this disclosure, on the other hand, provides improved seed stability on the rotating disk, which also contributes to improve the seed distribution in the conductor.

[0045] These properties, introduced by the disclosure, cause the frequency and quality of seed deposits in the soil to be uniform at regular intervals and at a constant rate, increasing crop productivity.

[0046] In addition to that which is illustrated and described, other embodiments and applications of this disclosure may be disclosed and completed in a variety of constructive ways in order to idealize the scope of the disclosure and for it to function within the stated objectives, since, in practice, the disclosure provides a significant improvement in seed utilization and crop yield, due to improved seed distribution in the soil.

[0047] It should be readily understood by those skilled in the art that modifications of the disclosure may be made without departing from the concepts set forth in the previous description. Such modifications are considered as included within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the particular conclusions previously described are merely illustrative and not limiting with respect to the disclosure's scope, to which the full extent of the attached claims and any equivalents thereof must be given.