Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AERODYNAMIC AND CENTRIFUGAL SEED ORIENTATION SYSTEM FOR
AGRICULTURAL PLANTERS
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No.
17/387,778, filed 28
July 2021, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention pertains generally to a seeding device for
agricultural row crop
planters, and more specifically to a seed orientation system, apparatus, and
method for placing
seeds in the soil in a selected growing orientation.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Agriculture is an industry that has been and continues to be heavily
shaped and
influenced by industrialization. Progress has been made at a breath-taking
pace. Each
improvement in speed or reliability to complete a task provides a substantial
reward to the farms,
by enabling the same number of farm workers to farm ever-increasing acreage in
a given amount
of time. Because of these amazing gains in productivity that have and continue
to be made, over
the last five decades the cost of basic food necessities has dropped relative
to other components
of the general cost of living. This provides enormous benefit to society,
since a safe and stable
food supply for the ever-increasing population is vital to the health and well-
being of individuals
and the stability of governments and countries.
[0004] There are a number of different needs that must be improved upon for a
farm work
force to expand the amount of acreage being tended. These include more rapid
and efficient
planting of seeds or seedlings, more rapid and efficient tending of the crops
between planting
and harvest, and more rapid and efficient harvesting. Critically, both
planting and harvest may
have very short, unpredictable time windows within which a farm crew must
complete the work.
There are more times than any farm would like when the weather interferes with
planting. As
an example, a cold, late spring with late frost that is followed by
substantial rains can leave the
fields partially flooded and too muddy and soft to enter with the equipment.
The farm is forced
to wait for the field to dry, and this combination can leave the farm with
only a few days to plant
the crop. If they fail, precious acreage may be forced to sit idle,
substantially reducing the crop
yield and income that the farm receives. Similarly, germination rates can be
significantly
affected by temperature and moisture, so finding the optimum weather forecast
and getting all
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of the land planted within that optimum weather window can also significantly
affect crop
yields.
[0005] Recognizing these needs, modern agricultural equipment manufacturers
have strived
and succeeded in producing ever larger and still highly reliable machinery
that allows a farm
work force to plant more seeds in less time. In contrast to the days of yore
when a farmer used
an ox or other farm animal to pull a single bottom plow, and then followed
with seed by hand
to plant that crop, modern machinery now plants many rows simultaneously, and
at speeds of
travel that can greatly exceed that which was previously possible.
[0006] Agricultural row crop planters typically include a seed hopper
connected to a seed
metering system that delivers seeds into a furrow formed by disc opener
blades. A plurality of
these row crop planters are typically mounted in parallel along a tool bar
which is attached to a
tractor. For example, it is common as of the time of this filing to have
twenty-four or thirty-six
row units attached to a single tractor.
[0007] For such a large assembly to be effective, the apparatus must be
extremely reliable.
With twenty-four "clones" of the equipment, the likelihood of failure is
twenty-four times
greater than it would be with a single row planter. When the row crop planter
does fail, it is
also critical that the equipment is quick and easy for the farm workers to
repair or replace,
because the repair time not only slows down the failed row, but planting is
stopped for all
twenty-four rows. The likelihood of failure and impact of repair time is even
greater when the
assembly is a thirty-six row planter.
[0008] Within a typical prior art row crop planter, seeds are delivered in
bulk from the seed
hopper to the metering system. The metering system precisely singulates the
bulk seeds, and
will most preferably provide these singulated seeds at very predictable and
repeatable time
intervals. There has been much development of improved metering systems, and
these in
general have proven to be quite reliable. The row crop planter subsequently
delivers one seed
at a time into the ground, typically into a furrow cut by the opener blades.
The speed of release
of individual seeds from the metering system is preferably adjustable, to
properly control the
spacing of the seeds based upon the speed of the tractor and row crop planters
relative to the
ground.
[0009] The standard method of seed delivery from the seed hopper to the ground
is a gravity
drop system that locates a seed tube inlet below the seed metering system. A
singulated seed
drops from the metering system down the seed tube and into a furrow prepared
by opener blades
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disposed forward of the seed tube. This standard method of seed delivery,
while a vast
improvement over older techniques, leaves much room for improvement in desired
seed
placement, seed spacing, and relative velocity of the seed as it hits the
ground. One very
common issue today is that the seed tends to bounce unpredictably when it
lands in the furrow,
and can roll or tumble in either direction. Some seeds may stick when they
land, while others
may tumble for significant distances. This is particularly challenging as the
speed of the planter
relative to the ground increases, since the seeds that tumble or roll will
have greater momentum
to carry them farther from the intended target.
[0010] In order to obtain constant, uniform seed spacing at high planting
speeds, apparatus
have been devised that improve the delivery of the seed. Exemplary U.S.
patents include:
5,974,988 by Stufflebeam et al; 6,332,413 by Stufflebeam et al; 8,336,471 by
Gilstring; and
8,789,482 by Garner et al. The typical row unit such as that illustrated by
Stufflebeam et al,
Gilstring, and Garner et al delivers seeds to the furrow with the seed timing
and therefore seed
spacing more precisely controlled, even at significantly increased planting
speeds than generally
used in the prior art. In each of these patents this is accomplished by
controlling the seed travel
and bounce, though each patent does so with different techniques. The
Stufflebeam et al patents
provide a specially shaped curvilinear feed tube of low coefficient of
friction material. Gilstring
provides a high-speed air transport through a small diameter feed tube. Garner
et al use a brush
to separate and control movement of seed. However, none of these patents make
any attempt
to orient a seed, or provide any way to ensure the seed will remain oriented
into the soil and
while being covered with soil.
[0011] Optimizing seed orientation, tip down with germ facing adjacent row
during planting,
results in a quicker and more even emergence, increased light interception,
and faster canopy
closure resulting in reduced weed pressure. When the tip of the seed is
pointed down into the
ground, the root and coleoptiles do not waste time and energy wrapping around
the seed. Thus
the crop has quicker and more even emergence and greater stand uniformity.
[0012] There are further production advantages when the germ of the seed is
orientated toward
an adjacent row, generally perpendicular to the row the seed is in. The leaf
structure of corn
plants aligns with the germ/embryo direction. When the germ is facing toward
the adjacent row,
the leaves orient between rows and not over neighboring plants within the same
row. As a result
of optimized leaf structure there is greater light interception for the plant.
Moreover, the
optimized leaf structure provides a quicker canopy closure which preserves
moisture and
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reduces weed pressure.
[0013] In contrast, with random orientation some plants emerge earlier or
later than the
majority of the crop, and some plants shade neighboring plants. Both
contribute to substantially
reduced yields, as evidenced by a number of studies. One exemplary thesis on
the topic entitled
"The Effects of Planting Techniques on Maize Grain Yield and Silage
Production," by Tyler D.
Kaufman in an Illinois State University publication dated Sep. 12, 2013,
establishes that an
optimal seed orientation can improve yield by 14-19% for a given field.
Clearly, there is much
economic incentive for an agricultural row planter that provides this optimum
seed orientation.
[0014] Some early pioneers devised apparatus to selectively orient seed.
Exemplary U.S.
patents include: 3,134,346 by Mann; 3,195,485 by Reynolds; and 3,217,674 by
Williams. Each
of these disclose narrow slots through which a seed passes, thereby forcing
the flat major
surfaces of the seed to align with the walls of the slot. This provides
orientation of the flat major
surfaces, but fails to orient the seed with the point down. In addition, the
seeds must be of
predictable size, preferably pre-graded as described by Mann. Unfortunately,
as also noted by
Mann, even with graded seed there will be errant sizes of seed in a batch.
Furthermore, and
even with perfectly graded seed, during planting in the field these narrow
slots are easily clogged
by other debris and are difficult and time-consuming to clean.
[0015] Another approach to proper orientation of a seed is the use of a holder
for the seed. One
type of holder is illustrated by US patent 3,636,897 by Brink, which uses
seeds pre-encapsulated
into a disk-shaped seed capsule. As long as the seeds are properly oriented
within the disk, then
the seeds are fed through a gearing structure that retains and orients the
disk. As may be
appreciated, this machinery is unaware of the orientation of the seed point,
and so like Mann
and Reynolds just described, this provides orientation of the flat major
surfaces, but fails to
orient the seed with the point down. CN 101663935 by Lu et al improves upon
the Brink patent
by providing a seed holder that is uniquely shaped to establish orientation.
Nevertheless, these
seed encapsulations incur undesired cost associated with the creation of the
seed capsule, extra
volume required for seed storage prior to planting, and the potential for
premature germination
or spoilage as a result of encapsulation.
[0016] Another very common seed holder is an indeterminate length tape to
which a seed is
adhered. Seed tapes very precisely and uniformly space the seeds, and other
substances such as
herbicides or fertilizers may be disposed on the tape as well to aid in the
growth and
development of the seed. Such tapes have been manufactured for many years,
particularly to
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benefit hobby gardeners, since the gardener may then much more quickly and
precisely plant,
with little or no seed waste. An exemplary U.S. published patent application
illustrating larger
commercial planters using seed tape is 2013/0152836 by Deppermann et al.
[0017] Some artisans have recognized that the seeds may be oriented when
adhered to the tape.
Exemplary Chinese published patents applications include: CN 103609227 by He
et al; and CN
104255130 by He et al, both applied for by the Agricultural University of
China.
[0018] Unfortunately, and similar to the seed capsules, there is: extra
expense associated with
the creation of the seed tape, including extra steps and handling if seeds are
to be oriented; extra
volume required for seed storage prior to planting; and the potential for
premature germination
or spoilage as a result of placement on the tape. In addition, the adhesion of
the seed to the tape
can be unpredictable and hard to adequately control, the tape acts as a waste
material that can
interfere with seed germination and growth, and the tape is quite difficult to
reliably insert into
the ground and then properly cover at high speeds. As described in CN
108207212 by Chen et
al, and also applied for by the Agricultural University of China, the
aforementioned CN
103609227 and CN 104255130 suffer from the "following deficiencies: 1) The
seed belt is
difficult to manufacture and lay out, and the efficiency is low; 2) The seed
reel is bulky and
inconvenient to store."
[0019] As an alternative to the seed tape, CN 108207212 proposes a cartridge
that contains
oriented corn seed. The cartridge has been designed to make manufacturing and
seed insertion
easier, and to reduce the bulk of a seed tape. Nevertheless, use of the
cartridge still requires
moving the seed from the cartridge to the soil while maintaining orientation,
and the patent fails
to disclose how this is achieved. As noted herein above, movement of the seed
without losing
orientation has been an obstacle that has not been overcome in the prior art.
In addition, the
cartridge still runs the challenges experienced even with the earliest patent
by Mann, including:
challenges of proper handling and storage in the cartridge of errant sizes and
geometries of seed;
tendency for clogging and jamming during planting; difficulties and time-
consumption required
to clean; and in the case of the magazine, the necessarily limited size and
need for frequent
changing when planting large areas.
[0020] For scientific testing and laboratory analysis, some artisans have
painted corn seed
while still on the kernel with iron-containing paint. Once the corn is
painted, then it is separated
from the cob. The iron paint then allows the corn seeds to be oriented by
application of a
magnetic field. Exemplary U.S. and Foreign patents and published applications
include:
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7,735,626 by Cope et al; 7,997,415 by Mongan et al; and 8,286,387 by Becker et
al. This
technique is very innovative and can be extremely useful for various
laboratory procedures, but
too much iron in the soil can stunt plant growth and discolor foliage,
weakening and eventually
killing the plant. Continued application of iron through multiple seasons can
result in iron
accumulations within the soil as well, compounding the problem. Consequently,
while
developed for laboratory use, no techniques are disclosed to handle seed
during planting using
this technique.
[0021] A number of artisans have applied robotics, often with computer vision
systems, to
orient seeds and plants. Exemplary U.S. and Foreign patents and published
applications include:
2,935,957 by Denton; 8,245,439 by Deppermann et al; 9,924,629 by Batcheller et
al;
2019/0223372 by Koch et al; 2019/0230846 by Koch et al; 2019/0289778 by Koch
et al;
2019/0289779 by Koch et al; 2020/0187410 by Bredeweg; and WO 2020/247985 by
Leifker et
al. While robotics and vision technologies have advanced, the combination of a
seed-orienting
robotics system with a vision system disposed close to the ground is
nevertheless expensive,
difficult to operate at high speed, and prone to failure in the harsh planting
environment. As
noted herein above, with twenty-four or thirty-six rows being planted
simultaneously, the
likelihood of failure is also twenty-four or thirty-six times greater. When
only one row crop
planter fails, the entire machine is shut down, stopping planting of all rows.
[0022] Similar to Gilstring described above, and somewhat less relevant to the
present
invention, a number of artisans have moved seed by air for transport through a
planting
apparatus. Such apparatus are sometimes referred to as air seed planters.
Exemplary U.S.
patents and published applications include: 2,783,918 by Bramblett; 3,482,735
by Goulter;
3,790,026 by Neumeister; 3,848,552 by Bauman et al; 3,860,146 by Bauman et al;
3,881,631
by Loesch et al; 3,891,120 by Loesch et al; 5,524,559 by Davidson; 5,601,209
by Barsi et al;
5,603,269 by Bassett; 6,148,748 by Bardi et al; 6,827,029 by Wendte; 7,270,064
by Kjelsson et
al; 7,509,915 by Memory; 8,757,074 by Cruson; 9,591,798 by Horsch; 10,412,879
by Cruson;
and 2020/0128725 by Rhodes et al. However, the air flow is used for transport
only, and none
of these patents make any attempt to orient a seed or provide any way to
ensure the seed will
remain oriented into the soil and while being covered with soil.
[0023] In addition to the Williams patent referenced herein above, other
artisans have devised
improved furrow opening and forming apparatus. Exemplary U.S. patents include:
4,798,151
by Rodrigues, Jr. et al; and 6,178,901 by Anderson.
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[0024] Other diverse and somewhat less relevant seed and leaf orientation
apparatus are
illustrated in U.S. and Foreign patents and published applications include:
2,618,373 by
Hathaway; 3,623,595 by Brown et al; 7,814,849 by McOmber; 9,861,025 by
Schaefer et al;
10,785,905 by Stoller et al; CN 102893723 by Hou et al; CN102918963 by Hou et
al; CN
107371486 by Chen et al; and CN 107439101 by Duan et al. Interestingly, the
latter CN
107439101, also applied for by the Agricultural University of China, discusses
both CN
102893723 by Hou et al and another, CN102918963 also by Hou et al, noting that
the CN
102893723 device structure is complex, the success rate of the orientation is
low, and the corn
seed can not be operated at a distance; and noting that the CN102918963 device
is complex,
and the corn seed orientation and the distance are separately carried out,
such that when the corn
seed which is oriented in a flat-lying position is positioned (presumably for
planting or the like),
the original orientation result is easily destroyed with the root tips of the
radicles no longer
aligned in a forward direction.
[0025] In spite of the long-standing substantial economic incentive, long-term
awareness, and
substantial research and development that has been conducted, evidenced by the
fact that the
Kaufman paper as of this writing is more than seven years old, that several
studies referenced
by Kaufman are more than thirty years old, that the Mann, Reynolds, and
Williams patents are
more than fifty years old, and the many other patents and publications
described above, proper
and consistent seed orientation has not been successfully economically
implemented in
commercial agricultural row planters. Thus there remains a need for a seed
orientation system
that economically and efficiently plants the seeds tip down and germ facing
the next row in a
furrow.
[0026] Recognizing this need, the present inventors devised a seed orientation
system for
agricultural planters that orients a seed during planting in a furrow first
disclosed in WIPO
published application WO 2020/227670. The seed orientation system disclosed
therein
comprises a seed orientation coil disposed so as to receive seeds from a
planter row unit
designed for the purpose of delivering a seed into a furrow. An example of a
commonly found
planter and row unit, for exemplary and non-limiting purposes, is illustrated
by the Stufflebeam
et al, Gilstring, and Garner et al patents referenced herein above. As shown
in those patents,
the row unit is typically mounted to a tool bar that attaches to a tractor or
similar towing device
along with other identical or similar planting row units. An exemplary row
unit may include a
seed hopper for storing the seed for planting. The seed moves from the seed
hopper to a seed
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meter that singulates the seed at a desired spacing for delivery to the
ground. An opener blade
forms a trench or furrow in the soil ahead of the seed tube. A gauge wheel
controls the depth
of the furrow, and a closing wheel subsequently closes the furrow over the
seed.
[0027] From the seed meter, in a typical prior art row unit the seed is
delivered to the ground
through a seed tube. Instead, as disclosed by the present inventors in WO
2020/227670, a seed
orientation coil is inserted between the seed tube and the furrow. The seed
orientation coil
includes a curved seed path, and a pressurized air system to direct an air
flow onto the curved
path. The airflow directs the seed into a seed tip down orientation on a flat
side of the seed and
propels the seed down the curved path to a seed exit path. The preferred
embodiment curved
path disclosed in WO 2020/227670 has a helical shape and comprises a seed
guide wall and a
seed riding surface, and the preferred embodiment pressurized air system
includes a plurality of
nozzles to direct a radial airflow component over the curved path and out a
series of external
vents.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention solve inadequacies of
the prior art
by providing a seed orientation coil assembly configured to receive randomly
oriented seeds
from an agricultural row planter and move the seeds through a curved pathway
defining a
curved seed riding surface. An air stream is created by injecting air through
air injector
nozzles onto the curved seed riding surface, and air is removed by venting air
through an air
vent radially inward from the curved seed riding surface. The seed is
stabilized, aligned, and
entrained in the air stream using some combination of aerodynamics,
centrifugal force, and
path geometry. A seed exit is configured to discharge into a wedge-shaped
furrow, detraining
the seed from the air stream and wedging the seed in the furrow before being
covered by a
closing wheel, thereby planting the aligned seed into the soil while achieving
tip-down seed
orientation with the germ facing an adjacent row.
[0029] In one manifestation, the invention is a seed orientation coil assembly
for orienting
seed and delivering the oriented seed. A seed entry aperture is configured to
be connected to
an agricultural planting machine and receive seed therefrom. A seed
orientation coil defines a
curved seed riding surface upon which the seed travels and aligns that is
configured to receive
seeds from the seed entry aperture. An air stream has at least a parallel
component traveling
adjacent to the curved seed riding surface and entrains the seed. The air flow
is configured to
direct the seed into a seed tip down orientation with the seed in contact with
the curved seed
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riding surface on a flat side of the seed and is configured to propel the seed
down the curved
seed path to a seed exit.
[0030] In another manifestation, the invention is method for planting a seed
in an orientated
position within a seed row in soil by using a seed orientation coil assembly
having a seed path.
The seed is transferred from a seed hopper to the seed orientation coil
assembly, and is
directed onto the seed path. The seed is propelled through the seed path while
subjecting the
seed to a centrifugal force. An air flow is injected into the seed path and
entrains the seed.
The air flow is vented through at least one air vent extending radially inward
from the seed
path. The seed is aligned into an aligned position relative to the seed path
and maintained in
the aligned position responsive to the propelling step. The seed is moved in
the aligned
position from the seed path subjected to the centrifugal force to a seed exit
path. The
centrifugal force is removed from the seed in the aligned position within the
seed exit path.
The seed is ejected in the aligned position entrained in the air flow from the
seed exit path and
into soil in the orientated position with seed tip pointed down and seed germ
pointed
transverse to the seed row.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the
present
invention can be understood and appreciated by reference to the following
detailed description
of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0032] FIGs. 1-4 illustrate a seed orientation coil assembly from top, bottom
and front side
projected, top and side projected, and sectional views, respectively, the
sectional view of
Figure 4 taken along section line 4' shown in Figure 1.
[0033] FIGs. 5-6 illustrate a seed orientation coil assembly from front
elevational and
sectional views, respectively, the sectional view of Figure 6 taken along
section line 6' shown
in Figure 5.
[0034] FIGs. 7-9 illustrate first, second, and third alternative embodiment
seed riding
surfaces from side sectional view.
[0035] FIG. 10 illustrates a single seed riding surface air jet of Figure 9
from an enlarged side
sectional view.
[0036] FIGs. 11-15 illustrate a seed orientation coil assembly from projected,
side
elevational, top, bottom, and sectional views, respectively, the sectional
view of Figure 15
taken along section line 15' shown in Figure 14.
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[0037] While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and
alternative
forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and
will be
described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is
not to limit the
claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary,
the intention is
to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the
spirit and scope of
the subject matter as defined by the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Figures 1-4 illustrate a seed orientation coil assembly 240 designed in
accord with the
teachings of the present invention. Air from a central blower/fan is coupled
through any
suitable coupler to a central system air infeed 242, where the pressurized air
enters seed
orientation coil assembly 240. While air is most preferred owing to both ready
availability,
low cost, and presence of blowers on most equipment, it will be appreciated in
alternative
embodiments that other fluid sources will be provided, which for exemplary and
non-limiting
purposes will include such sources as compressed or liquified nitrogen, carbon
dioxide, or
other suitable fluids or fluid blends.
[0039] The air enters a central injector core 258 of any suitable geometry,
which acts to
distribute the air to one or more air injector nozzles 264. As best evident in
Figure 4, these air
injector nozzles 264 are each directed at helical pathway 290 and inject air
onto the seed
riding surface 292 at unique and distinct locations. The air injector nozzles
264 are arranged
in a helical pattern, following the curvature of seed riding surface 292.
Helical pathway 290 is
defined by a trough or other suitable geometry formed into vented outer coil
260, and, as
illustrated, includes three revolutions. Nevertheless, embodiments with less
or more than
three revolutions are envisioned.
[0040] Some portion of the pressurized air jet released from each air injector
nozzles 264 will
follow within helical pathway 290, and will also be exposed to centrifugal
force as the air
stream contacts helical pathway 290. As a result, this air stream will
interact with any seed 28
traveling along seed riding surface 292. Seed riding surface 292 uses a smooth
surface to slide
a seed 28 and to retain stability and orientation, preventing rotation and/or
tumbling.
[0041] In seed orientation coil assembly 240, the upper inner region is open
to the
atmosphere through vent 268. Consequently, some of the air traveling in the
direction of
helical pathway 290 but relatively more interior or radially inward therefrom
will peel away
and travel out of vent 268. The result in some embodiments is that the highest
velocity air
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stream will travel within helical pathway 290 very near to riding surface 292.
In such
embodiments, there will be a reduced lifting of the seed away from riding
surface 292.
[0042] While as illustrated vent 268 is simply an open top, in some
embodiments one of any
variety of protective and air permeable coverings or closures will be used.
Such air permeable
coverings, for exemplary and non-limiting purpose, may comprise screening,
mesh, micro-
porous materials and compositions, a cap with at least one small gap or
covered opening, or
any other suitable or equivalent apparatus.
[0043] Seed 28 enters helical pathway 290 through seed entrance 266 where the
seed is
exposed to a combination of air force, centrifugal force, and riding surface
friction. This
combination of forces is configured by design to orient seed traveling through
seed orientation
coil assembly 240, such as disclosed by the present inventors in WO
2020/227670.
[0044] The characteristics of seed orientation coil assembly 240 that can be
controlled or
varied with appropriate design and geometry of injector core 258 and outer
coil 260 to tune or
optimize performance include but are not limited to: the radius of curvature
of helical seed
pathway 290 and the number of turns; rate of change of the radius of curvature
of helical seed
pathway 290; the extent of banking; the seed velocity along seed riding
surface 292; change in
direction of seed riding surface 292 along one or multiple axes; the extent of
the contact
surface area, surface finish, and coefficients of friction; the extent and
geometry of nozzles
264 and vent(s) 268; the air pressure provided to nozzles 264; and the angle
of the injector
airflow.
[0045] After being oriented in seed orientation coil assembly 240, the seed is
then directed to
oriented seed exit path 244 and subsequently planted. Oriented seed exit path
244 is a non-
disruptive continuation of helical pathway 290. Most desirably, this ensures
that the seed 28
traverses from helical pathway 290 to oriented seed exit path 244 while the
flat of the corn
seed 28 stays firmly positioned against the exit wall without disturbing tip-
forward orientation.
In seed orientation coil assembly 240, the curvature of helical pathway 290
transitions to a
progressively larger radius into and along oriented seed exit path 244,
thereby reducing
centrifugal force applied to the seed 28. The centrifugal force is finally
removed completely
when the seed leaves oriented seed exit path 244. Oriented seed exit path 244
also gently arcs
through a rapidly increasing pitch ultimately to a downward direction of
travel, thereby
rotating the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the seed 28 to point the
seed tip down and
toward a furrow.
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[0046] After being oriented in seed orientation coil assembly 240, the seed 28
is then directed
to oriented seed exit path 244, and then into a furrow that is used to capture
or wedge the seed
to retain its orientation and/or position. In seed orientation coil assembly
240, as the seed 28
leaves oriented seed exit path 244 it will be airborne for a short distance,
maintaining its stable
state. The seed orientation can be captured and preserved if the seed is
propelled into an
interference fit within the furrow in the soil. In addition to maintaining
proper seed
orientation, wedging the seed into firm contact with moist soil around both
major faces of the
seed will also reduce germination time, render germination times more
consistent across a
field, and improve germination rates. A very important benefit of the present
invention is this
increase in consistency of germination time. Agronomists have noted that a
very slow-to-
germinate seed in effect becomes a super weed, because it is not killed by
herbicides, and yet
if it germinates late, it will not yield any corn and will instead compete
with corn-producing
plants for sunlight and nutrients. Delays in germination can be caused by air
pockets around
or against the seed, or by improper orientation, both addressed by preferred
embodiments of
the present invention.
[0047] The furrow profile preferably needs to taper down to allow seeds of all
sizes to be
captured. The profile preferably will also have an extended bottom to allow
the seed to
become wedged or friction fit rather than the seed tip hitting the bottom of
the sub-furrow and
recoiling out.
[0048] Desirably, a laminar airflow of greater velocity than the seed will
continue to entrain
the seed within oriented seed exit path 244 and onward through the air and
into the furrow.
Within the furrow, primary airflow will be deflected by soil and so will
primarily exit
longitudinally within the furrow. However, the seed will preferably have
sufficient inertia and
momentum to separate from the primary airflow, subsequently wedging within the
furrow.
[0049] One of the serious shortcomings and challenges faced by the prior art
that provides at
least temporary orientation, such as referenced herein above, is maintaining
orientation all the
way into soil and through the closing of the soil around and over the seed.
While it may seem
intuitive to extend a prior art seed tube down into the furrow, the prior art
avoids such a
geometry because a relatively small orifice feed tube required to maintain
orientation will clog
easily if so extended. Nevertheless, without a suitable airflow of
substantially equal or greater
velocity than the seed, the seed will almost instantly destabilize. If the
airflow velocity drops
below that of the seed, the aerodynamics that the present invention relies
upon to orient the
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seed will essentially instantaneously flip the tip orientation of the seed. If
this occurs suddenly
and without stabilization, which is what happens to a seed being ejected from
a prior art seed
tube above the soil, the seed will essentially instantaneously tumble in the
air, destroying any
previous orientation. Even if the airflow velocity exiting the seed tube is
approximately that
of the seed, the air stream will degrade extremely quickly due to eddy
currents and turbulence
with the air surrounding the seed tube exit, still undesirably quickly
dropping the airflow
velocity and causing the seed to tumble.
[0050] In contrast to prior art seed tubes that must necessarily terminate
above the furrow, in
the present invention the oriented seed exit path 244 preferably extends all
the way into the
furrow. As a result, the air stream that leaves oriented seed exit path 244
entrains the seed 28
through a very short travel distance measured by approximately the depth of
the furrow before
the seed separates therefrom. In consideration thereof, in some alternative
embodiments of the
present invention a seed alignment apparatus such as illustrated in the prior
art referenced
herein above but not limited solely thereto is provided in combination with
the teachings of
the present oriented seed exit path 44 and air entrainment, followed by
detrainment in the
furrow to provide seed orientation apparatuses.
[0051] While the close proximity of the seed exit point from oriented seed
exit path 244 to
the sub-furrow is beneficial, this is not the sole benefit and novelty of the
geometry and
operation of the oriented seed exit path 244. In addition to proximity,
locating the seed exit
point within the furrow also means that the furrow acts as a containment and
guide for the air
stream that, while not identical, is functionally similar to the containment
of the air stream
within helical pathway 290 or within an air-driven seed tube. Since the air
stream is contained
within and guided by the furrow, this also helps to maintain the air stream at
a higher velocity
while the seed is entrained solely therein. As the air stream passes within
the furrow, the air
stream is necessarily deflected toward the closing wheels by the generally
vertical side walls
of the furrow and the sub-furrow opener. This means the air stream changes
direction from a
primarily vertical path through a sharp curve to a much more horizontal path.
As the much
lighter and lower mass air stream makes the sharp curve required by the
geometry of the
furrow, momentum of the seed causes the seed to separate from the horizontally
redirected air
stream. Rather than making the sharp curve, the seed will instead keep moving
vertically
downward deeper into the furrow. Preferably, this separation from the air
stream will occur as
closely as possible to the bottom, or even within a sub-furrow, so that seed
inertia is sufficient
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to maintain the seed orientation entirely into wedging engagement with such a
sub-furrow.
[0052] While the oriented seed exit path 244 will in some alternative
embodiments be swept
or angled backward to impart a horizontal velocity component, the actual
attained horizontal
velocity component will vary depending upon the actual exit speed of the seed,
in turn
controlled significantly by overall system air availability and pressure. In
addition, and as will
be apparent to those reasonably skilled in the art, changing the angle of the
oriented seed exit
path 244 will also alter the overall seed orientation when the seed is wedged
into the soil.
Consequently, the selection of an exit path angle will be made with
appropriate consideration
for both of the acceptable target seed orientation and seed-to-ground velocity
differential.
[0053] The angle of the oriented seed exit path 244 in some alternative
embodiments also or
alternatively will be varied to provide finer control of seed orientation. For
exemplary and
non-limiting purpose, in some alternative embodiments adjustment of the angle
of oriented
seed exit path 244 is used to compensate for any action or effect of the
closing wheel that
might cause the already deposited seed to rotate about an axis transverse to
the row during the
closing of the soil about the seed. Nevertheless, in most embodiments and
applications the
sub-furrow is inconsequentially disturbed during the closing process, meaning
the orientation
of the seed in most situations will not change.
[0054] Various embodiments of apparatus designed in accord with the present
invention have
been illustrated in the various figures. The embodiments are distinguished by
the hundreds
digit, and various components within each embodiment designated by the ones
and tens digits.
However, many of the components are alike or similar between embodiments, so
numbering
of the ones and tens digits have been maintained wherever possible, such that
identical, like or
similar functions may more readily be identified between the embodiments. If
not otherwise
expressed, those skilled in the art will readily recognize the similarities
and understand that in
many cases like numbered ones and tens digit components may be substituted
from one
embodiment to another in accord with the present teachings, except where such
substitution
would otherwise destroy operation of the embodiment. Consequently, those
skilled in the art
will readily determine the function and operation of many of the components
illustrated herein
without unnecessary additional description.
[0055] Figures 5-6 illustrate a seed orientation coil assembly 340 that
closely resembles first
embodiment seed orientation coil assembly 240. In consideration thereof, most
of the
components will be understood to be identical or substantially similar.
However, second
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alternative embodiment seed orientation coil assembly 340 also includes an
injector core outer
wall 359 that at least partially encloses helical pathway 390. As illustrated
in Figure 19,
injector core outer wall 359 fully encloses helical pathway 390, and in such
instance will most
preferably be air permeable, for exemplary and non-limiting purpose
comprising: one or more
internally directed vent holes, small gaps, micro-porous materials and
compositions including
but not limited to a porous material including but not limited to a mesh or
screen, sintered
metals, porous carbon, porous carbon-graphite, porous carbon-silicates, open-
cell foams of
any suitable composition, and other breathable materials and compositions; or
any other
suitable or equivalent apparatus. The inclusion of injector core outer wall
359 can therefore
be used to alleviate the need for any dust covers or other protective
apparatus.
[0056] Figures 7-10 illustrate a large plurality of first, second, and third
alternative
embodiment air jets 93, 193, 293 applied to seed riding surface 292. Seed
riding surface 292
preferably comprises a low friction, low roughness, and/or lubricious surface
that reduces any
tumbling of the seed. Instead, the greater velocity air stream will induce the
seed to slide
before tumbling or lifting, thereby maintaining an oriented position. While
materials selection
and surface finish can reduce surface friction, in the illustrations of
Figures 7-10 the first,
second, and third alternative embodiment air jets 93, 193, 293 are applied to
seed riding
surface 292 to obtain similar benefit. A large number of relatively low volume
air jets 93,
193, 293 are provided with a pressure differential that moves air to and
exiting from seed
riding surface 292 to reduce the riding surface friction. Air jets 93 comprise
generally
cylindrical conduits extending perpendicular to seed riding surface 292, while
air jets 193
illustrate the option in some alternative embodiments to vary the angular
orientation of the
conduits relative to seed riding surface 292.
[0057] Figure 10 illustrates a single seed riding surface air jet of Figure 9
from an enlarged
view. As evident therefrom, seed riding surface air jets 293 may in some
embodiments be
provided with additional geometry designed to control the flow and swirl of
air for particular
desired effect. As visible therein, generally cylindrical air jet conduit 298
ends prior to seed
riding surface 292, with the air flow instead being conveyed through an air
swirl and flow
shaping orifice 299 of any suitable geometry. For exemplary and non-limiting
purpose, an air
swirl and flow shaping orifice 299 in some embodiments is configured to
generate an eddy-
type swirl similar to that created by dimples in a golf ball, though other
geometries will be
recognized by those skilled in the art of nozzles to obtain desired air flow
adjacent to surface
CA 03226144 2024-01-04
WO 2023/007284 PCT/IB2022/056294
292 and seed 28.
[0058] Figures 11-15 illustrate a third embodiment seed orientation coil
assembly 440
including an integral seed collector 432. System air infeed 442 drives air
through air injector
nozzle 464 into helical pathway 490. In the region adjacent to system air
infeed 442, helical
pathway 490 is fully enclosed and unvented. However, shortly thereafter vented
outer coil
460 is provided with an open interior vent 468, which may be entirely open as
illustrated, or
which in alternative embodiments is covered by an air-permeable surface.
Vented outer coil
460 may comprise any number of degrees of rotation, though as illustrated by
approximately a
single 360 degree rotation. The relatively small diameter helps to increase
the centrifugal
force applied to a seed. After passing through vented outer coil 460, the seed
will then pass
into and through oriented seed exit path 444 which functions in the manner of
oriented seed
exit path 244 already described herein above. This third alternative
embodiment seed
orientation coil assembly 440 illustrates a combination of a single air
injector nozzle 464,
greater centrifugal force generation, shorter overall seed path length from
seed collector 432 to
oriented seed exit path 444, and a single long interior vent 468.
[0059] In some alternative embodiments, system air infeed 442 is positioned
lower along
helical pathway 490, intermediate between the position illustrated in Figures
11-15 and the aft
end of oriented seed exit path 444. In such embodiments, seed entering into
seed orientation
coil assembly 440 will most preferably be delivered with appropriate velocity
to traverse seed
riding path 492 and, where provided, gently engage with a seed guide wall
similar to and
designed in accord with the teachings of the seed guide wall disclosed in our
published
application WO 2020/227670. It will be understood herein that such a guide
wall will be
provided in some alternative embodiments to the seed orientation coil
assemblies 240, 340,
440. In such embodiments, the major component of riding surface friction
preferably will be
derived from seed riding surface 292, and only a minor component of riding
surface friction
will be derived from the seed guide wall.
[0060] As already aforementioned with respect to seed orientation coil
assembly 240, seed
riding surfaces 292, 392, 492 may be curved, planar, or of other suitable
geometry in profile,
and the characteristics of the seed orientation coil assemblies 240, 340, 440
can be controlled
or varied with appropriate design and geometry of injector core and outer coil
including but
not limited to: the diameter of helical seed pathway and the number of turns;
the extent of
banking, also described herein as the angle of the radially outward slope of
the seed riding
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surface 292 profile; the seed velocity along seed riding surface; the extent
of the contact
surface area, surface finish, coefficients of friction including in some
embodiments different
coefficients of friction between seed riding surface and seed guide wall, the
extent and volume
and pressure of seed riding surface air jets such as 93, 193, 293, and
venting; the extent and
geometry of air injector nozzles such as air injector nozzles 264, 364, 464
and vents such as
vents 268, 368, 468; the air pressure provided to air injector nozzles 264,
364, 464; and the
angle of injector airflow.
[0061] Owing to the construction of seed orientation system 30, even in the
event of a failure
to orient a seed preferred embodiments of the present invention will continue
to plant such
unoriented seeds without interfering with the ordinary operation of row unit
10.
Consequently, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
designed to offer
substantial benefit in planting with minimal risk.
[0062] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments
only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the
term "and/or"
includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed
items. As used
herein, the singular forms "a,","an," and "the" are intended to include the
plural forms as well
as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will
be further
understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification,
specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or
components, but do
not preclude the presence of or addition of one or more other features, steps,
operations,
elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0063] All references cited herein are incorporated herein in their
entireties. If there is a
conflict between definitions herein and in an incorporated reference, the
definition herein shall
control. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used
herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary
skill in the art
to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms,
such as those defined
in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that
is consistent
with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present
disclosure and will not be
interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined
herein.
[0064] An aerodynamic and centrifugal seed orientation system designed in
accord with the
teachings of the present invention is applied industrially to agricultural
planters and row units.
The seed orientation system delivers the seeds tip down and germ facing the
next row in a
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furrow. Although corn is the seed type presented and illustrated, the benefits
of proper planted
seed orientation also apply to other crop types. Consequently, for a variety
of crops where
planted seed orientation is important and can be controlled using the present
teachings, the
present invention will increase production and yield.
[0065] While the foregoing details what is felt to be the preferred embodiment
of the invention,
no material limitations to the scope of the claimed invention are intended.
Further, features and
design alternatives that would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art
are considered to be
incorporated herein. The scope of the invention is set forth and particularly
described in the
claims herein below.
18
