Method and apparatus for planting seed in a seed research plot
AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE(-1-1) Application NoAU2003297747 A8 (54) Title Method and apparatus for planting seed in a seed research plot (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) A01C 007/00 (21) Application No: 2003297747 (22) Application Date: 2003.12.09 (87) WIPO No: WO04/053379 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date 10/663,513 2003.09.16 60/432,361 2002.12.10 (33) Country US us (43) (43) Publication Date : 2004 .06.30 Publication Journal Date : 2004 .08.05 (71) Applicant(s) GARY W. CLEM, INC. (72) Inventor(s) Carr, Brian W.; Moore, Peter B.; Handorf, Donald F.; Sporrer, Scott A.; Merfeld, Nick (19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE(-1-1) Application NoAU2003297747 A8 (54) Title Method and apparatus for planting seed in a seed research plot (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) A01C 007/00 (21) Application No: 2003297747 (22) Application Date: 2003.12.09 (87) WIPO No: WO04/053379 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date 10/663,513 2003.09.16 60/432,361 2002.12.10 (33) Country US us (43) (43) Publication Date : 2004 .06.30 Publication Journal Date : 2004 .08.05 (71) Applicant(s) GARY W. CLEM, INC. (72) Inventor(s) Carr, Brian W.; Moore, Peter B.; Handorf, Donald F.; Sporrer, Scott A.; Merfeld, Nick -1- A seed meter for planting seeds includes a seed plate rotatably mounted within a housing. A rotary seed chamber (RSC) is mounted in the housing adjacent the seed plate and movable between first and second positions, to permit the seed plate to singularly select individual seeds from the RSC while in a first position, and to dump seed therefrom as well as blocking seeds from entering the seed plate while in a second position. A seed intake compartment having an inlet end, and a discharge end is located adjacent the RSC. A valve is located in the intake compartment to intermittently prevent seed from flowing from the inlet end to the discharge end. A power means actuates both the RSC and the valve. A wing plate on the rotary seed chamber opens and closes the discharge end as the rotary seed chamber is in its first and second positions, respectively. What is claimed is: 1. A seed meter for planting seed in a seed research plot, comprising, a housing, a vacuum-type seed plate rotatably mounted within the housing, a rotary seed chamber (RSC) mounted in the housing adjacent the seed plate and movable between first and second positions, to permit the seed plate to singularly select individual seeds from the RSC while in a first position, and to dump seed therefrom while in a second position, a seed intake compartment having a seed inlet end, and a seed exit discharge end located adjacent the RSC, a valve in the intake compartment to intermittently prevent seed from flowing from the inlet end to the discharge end and permit the accumulation of a quantity of seed in the intake compartment upstream of the discharge end,STDC0373 power means operatively connected to the RSC and the valve in the intake compartment to open and close the valve when the RSC is in its second and first positions, respectively, and a wing plate on the rotary seed chamber to open and close the discharge end of the seed intake compartment when the rotary seed chamber is in its first and second positions, respectively.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the power means is an air piston.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the power means is operatively connected to the valve in the intake compartment and the RSC to coordinate their respective movements.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the power means is controlled by a single controller, and the power means is a single power compartment.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the RSC and valve are simultaneously moved only by the power means. <Desc/Clms Page number 8> 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the RSC is operatively associated with the seed plate to wipe remaining seeds from the seed plate when the RSC is in the second position.
7. A seed meter for planting seed in a seed research plot, comprising, a housing, a seed plate rotatably mounted within the housing, a rotary seed chamber (RSC) mounted in the housing adjacent the seed plate and movable between first and second positions, to permit the seed plate to singularly select individual seeds from the RSC while in a first position, and to block seeds from entering the seed plate while in a second position, a seed intake compartment having a seed inlet end, and a seed exit discharge end located adjacent the RSC, a valve in the intake compartment to intermittently prevent seed from flowing from the inlet end to the discharge end and permit the accumulation of a quantity of seed in the intake compartment upstream of the discharge end,STDC0185 and power means operatively connected to the RSC and the valve in the intake compartment to open and close the valve when the RSC is in its second and first positions, respectively.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein the rotary seed chamber includes a wing plate to open and close the discharge end of the seed intake compartment when the rotary seed chamber is in its first and second positions, respectively.
9. The device of claim 7 wherein the power means is an air piston.
10. The device of claim 7 wherein the power means is operatively connected to the valve in the intake compartment and the RSC to coordinate their respective movements.
11. The device of claim 7 wherein the power means is controlled by a single controller, and the power means is a single power compartment. <Desc/Clms Page number 9> 12. The device of claim 7 wherein the RSC and valve are simultaneously moved only by the power means.
13. The device of claim 7 wherein the RSC is operatively associated with the seed plate to wipe remaining seeds from the seed plate when the RSC is in the second position.
14. A method of metering seed for planting seed in a seed metering research plot, comprising, taking a plurality of groups of seeds, sequentially moving seeds from each group of seeds to a seed intake compartment on a seed meter, simultaneously releasing seeds from the seed intake compartment to a rotatable seed chamber (RSC) on the meter and stopping seed movement to a seed planter via a vacuum type seed plate at the RSC, and simultaneously starting the release of seeds to the seed plate from the RSC and stopping the flow of seeds from the seed intake compartment to the RSC.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the simultaneous steps are powered and coordinated by a single power means.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the RSC is operatively associated with the seed plate to wipe remaining seeds from the seed plate when the RSC is in the second position.
17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of dumping any remaining seeds from the RSC by gravity to a non-planting location when the flow of seeds is released between the seed intake compartment to the RSC.