US3648631A — Volume displacement seed planter, matrix, and met…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 281 words

Apparatus for planting seed in a seed bed or the like, comprising: a planter frame movable over said seed bed; a tank carried by said frame for receiving a seed-containing matrix gel, said tank having at least one outlet; a positive displacement dispenser pump having a drive shaft and an inlet and an outlet; means connecting said pump inlet with said tank outlet; at least one soil opener carried by said planter frame arranged to open a trench as said planter frame is moved over said seed bed; conduit means extending from said pump outlet to a point at the trailing end of said soil opener for discharging said matrix gel into said trench; means connected with said drive shaft to drive said dispenser pump at a speed proportional to the rate at which said planter frame is moved over said seed bed, said pump-driving means including a gauge wheel carried by said planter frame, said gauge wheel being engageable with the seed bed to be rotated as said planter frame is moved over said seed bed; means interconnecting said gauge wheel and said dispenser pump drive shaft, whereby as said gauge wheel is rotated, said pump is operated to effect dispensing of the matrix gel, said lastmentioned means comprising: a first gear mounted on the dispenser pump drive shaft, a second gear engaged with said first gear, means carried by the frame supporting said second gear, and means including a chain drivingly interconnecting said gauge wheel with said second gear, said first gear having teeth extending completely around its periphery, and said second gear having circumferentially spaced groups of teeth thereon for intermittently driving said first gear and dispenser pump.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 281 words

Apparatus for planting seed in a seed bed or the like, comprising: a planter frame movable over said seed bed; a tank carried by said frame for receiving a seed-containing matrix gel, said tank having at least one outlet; a positive displacement dispenser pump having a drive shaft and an inlet and an outlet; means connecting said pump inlet with said tank outlet; at least one soil opener carried by said planter frame arranged to open a trench as said planter frame is moved over said seed bed; conduit means extending from said pump outlet to a point at the trailing end of said soil opener for discharging said matrix gel into said trench; means connected with said drive shaft to drive said dispenser pump at a speed proportional to the rate at which said planter frame is moved over said seed bed, said pump-driving means including a gauge wheel carried by said planter frame, said gauge wheel being engageable with the seed bed to be rotated as said planter frame is moved over said seed bed; means interconnecting said gauge wheel and said dispenser pump drive shaft, whereby as said gauge wheel is rotated, said pump is operated to effect dispensing of the matrix gel, said lastmentioned means comprising: a first gear mounted on the dispenser pump drive shaft, a second gear engaged with said first gear, means carried by the frame supporting said second gear, and means including a chain drivingly interconnecting said gauge wheel with said second gear, said first gear having teeth extending completely around its periphery, and said second gear having circumferentially spaced groups of teeth thereon for intermittently driving said first gear and dispenser pump.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 52 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 including paddle means; a paddle shaft supporting said paddle means in said tank for rotation about a horizontal axis for mixing a matrix gel, and for mixing seeds with said gel, and means including a motor connected with said paddle shaft for driving said paddle means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 161 words

In a seed planter including a seed-planting mechanism, means for driving said seed-planting mechanism, an electric clutch operatively connected between said planting mechanism and said driving means, and an electrical circuit connected with and controlling said electric clutch, means comprising: a power source; a continuous planting-program belt arranged to be driven at a speed proportional to the speed at which the seed planter travels during a planting operation; a photocell unit connected to said power source, and including a lamp on one side of said belt to project a beam of light through said belt, and a detector cell aligned with said lamp on the other side of said belt, said belt being translucent except for selected opaque portions; and means in said circuit connecting said photocell unit with said electric clutch, operable to energize and engage said electric clutch to drive said seed-planting mechanism whenever an opaque belt portion interrupts the light beam between said lamp and said detector cell.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 161 words

In a seed planter including a seed-planting mechanism, means for driving said seed-planting mechanism, an electric clutch operatively connected between said planting mechanism and said driving means, and an electrical circuit connected with and controlling said electric clutch, means comprising: a power source; a continuous planting-program belt arranged to be driven at a speed proportional to the speed at which the seed planter travels during a planting operation; a photocell unit connected to said power source, and including a lamp on one side of said belt to project a beam of light through said belt, and a detector cell aligned with said lamp on the other side of said belt, said belt being translucent except for selected opaque portions; and means in said circuit connecting said photocell unit with said electric clutch, operable to energize and engage said electric clutch to drive said seed-planting mechanism whenever an opaque belt portion interrupts the light beam between said lamp and said detector cell.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 206 words

Apparatus for planting seed in a seed bed or the like, comprising: a planter frame movable over said seed bed; a tank carried by said frame for receiving a seed-containing matrix gel, said tank having at least one outlet; a positive displacement dispenser pump having a drive shaft and an inlet and an outlet; means connecting said pump inlet with said tank outlet; at least one soil opener carried by said planter frame arranged to open a trench as said planter frame is moved over said seed bed; conduit means extending from said pump outlet to a point at the trailing end of said soil opener for discharging said matrix gel into said trench; means connected with said drive shaft to drive said dispenser pump at a speed proportional to thE rate at which said planter frame is moved over said seed bed; an electric clutch having an input side and an output side, said output side being connected with said drive shaft; drive means interconnecting the gauge wheel with the electric clutch input side; and electrical control circuit means connected with said electric clutch and arranged to effect engagement and disengagement of said clutch according to a preset program to intermittently drive the dispenser pump.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 206 words

Apparatus for planting seed in a seed bed or the like, comprising: a planter frame movable over said seed bed; a tank carried by said frame for receiving a seed-containing matrix gel, said tank having at least one outlet; a positive displacement dispenser pump having a drive shaft and an inlet and an outlet; means connecting said pump inlet with said tank outlet; at least one soil opener carried by said planter frame arranged to open a trench as said planter frame is moved over said seed bed; conduit means extending from said pump outlet to a point at the trailing end of said soil opener for discharging said matrix gel into said trench; means connected with said drive shaft to drive said dispenser pump at a speed proportional to thE rate at which said planter frame is moved over said seed bed; an electric clutch having an input side and an output side, said output side being connected with said drive shaft; drive means interconnecting the gauge wheel with the electric clutch input side; and electrical control circuit means connected with said electric clutch and arranged to effect engagement and disengagement of said clutch according to a preset program to intermittently drive the dispenser pump.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 121 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein the electrical control circuit means includes: a power source; a continuous program belt arranged to be driven in response to rotation of said gauge wheel and in predetermined ratio thereto; a photocell unit connected to said power source and including a lamp arranged to project a beam through said belt, and a detector cell aligned with said lamp on the other side of said belt, said belt being translucent except for selected opaque portions; and means connecting said photocell unit with said electric clutch, operable to energize and engage said clutch whenever an opaque belt portion interrupts the beam between said lamp and said detector cell to thereby interrupt operation of the dispenser pump.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-03-14	1975-09-13	1976-03-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-03-14	1979-09-13	1980-03-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-03-14	1983-09-13	1984-03-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Volume displacement seed planter, matrix, and method of planting seed

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag