Precision seed planter

Claim 2

A precision seed planter comprising: a feed wheel having a thin peripheral flange, the feed wheel rotating about a horizontal axis; shallow seed carrying pockets in the form of holes extending completely through the flange spaced at intervals along the periphery of the feed wheel, the pockets having sides slanted in the direction of rotation; a stationary wheel having a peripheral surface directly adjacent the inside of the flange of the feed wheel under the holes to provide a bottom for the pockets; a seed loading chamber in communicAtion with the periphery of the feed wheel for loading one or more seeds into each pocket in turn passing the chamber during rotation of the feed wheel; a drive wheel in substantially nonslipping contact with the ground; means for coupling the drive wheel to the feed wheel to turn the feed wheel at an angular velocity proportional to the angular velocity of the drive wheel; an exit for discharge of seeds from the pockets at a point facing the ground during rotation of the feed wheel; and a seed retaining member having an annular surface closely girding the outside of the flange of the feed wheel along the path of rotation of the feed wheel from the loading chamber to the exit to retain seeds in the pockets.

Claim 3

The seed planter of claim 1, in which the loading chamber is in communication with the periphery of the feed wheel over an extended region approximately 90* beyond the exit in the path of rotation of the feed wheel.

Claim 4

The seed planter of claim 2, additionally having a seed hopper located above the loading chamber and a connection from the hopper to the loading chamber to provide a gravity feed for seeds from the hopper to the chamber.

Claim 5

The seed planter of claim 3, in which the connection is an opening into the loading chamber and the loading chamber has a top portion in communication with the periphery of the feed wheel above the opening to permit seed fall back.

Claim 6

The seed planter of claim 4, in which the loading chamber has a bottom portion below this opening, and a V-shaped trough is formed in the loading chamber between the opening and the point of the bottom portion where the periphery of the feed wheel enters the chamber, the trough being aligned with the pockets in the feed wheel at the entering point.

Claim 7

The seed planter of claim 5, in which the loading chamber has an annular section directly adjacent to the periphery of the feed wheel, a seed storage section spaced from the periphery of the feed wheel approximately midway between the ends of the annular section such that the opening feeds into the storage section, and a baffle extending partially between the annular section and the storage section to isolate the opening from the adjacent portion of the annular section.

Claim 8

The seed planter of claim 6, in which the annular section extends from a point approximately 60* beyond the exit in the path of rotation of the feed wheel to a point approximately 150* beyond the exit in the path of rotation of the feed wheel.

Claim 9

The seed planter of claim 7, in which the baffle extends from a point approximately 90* beyond the exit in the path of rotation of the feed wheel to a point approximately 120* beyond the exit in the path of rotation of the feed wheel.

Claim 10

The seed planter of claim 8, in which the opening extends from a point approximately 90* beyond the exit in the path of rotation of the feed wheel to a point approximately 120* beyond the exit in the path of rotation of the feed wheel.

Claim 11

The seed planter of claim 1, in which the sides of the pockets are straight.

Claim 12

The seed planter of claim 1, in which the pockets are circular holes lying along an axis spaced from the center of rotation of the wheel and slanted in the direction of rotation of the wheel, the pockets each having an entrance at the periphery of the feed wheel and a bottom parallel to the entrance.

Claim 13

The seed planter of claim 10, in which the pockets have cylindrical sides and a uniform depth.

Claim 14

A precision seed planter comprising: a feed wheel having a periphery, the feed wheel rotating about a horizontal axis; seed carrying pockets spaced at intervals along the periphery of the feed wheel; a seed loading chamber in communication with the periphery of the feed wheel over an extended region located approximately 90* beyond the ground in the path of rotation of the feed wheel for loading one or more seeds into each pocket in turn passing the chamber during rotation of the feed wheel; an exit for discharge of seeds from the pockets at a point facing the ground during rotation of the feed wheel; a seed retaining member having an annular surface closely girding the periphery of the feed wheel along the path of rotation of the feed wheel from the loading chamber to the exit to retain seeds in the pockets; a drive wheel in substantially nonslipping contact with the ground; means for coupling the drive wheel to the feed wheel to turn the feed wheel at an angular velocity proportional to the angular velocity of the drive wheel; a seed hopper located above the loading chamber; an opening coupling the seed hopper to the loading chamber near the top thereof to provide a gravity feed for seeds from the hopper to the loading chamber; and a baffle extending from the top of the loading chamber downwardly below the top of the opening adjacent to the feed wheel to prevent the seed level in the region adjacent to the feed wheel from rising as high as the seed level adjacent to the opening.

Claim 15

A precision seed planter comprising: a feed wheel having a periphery, the feed wheel rotating about a horizontal axis; seed carrying pockets spaced at intervals along the periphery of the feed wheel; a seed loading chamber in communication with the periphery of the feed wheel over an extended region located approximately 90* beyond the ground in the path of rotation of the feed wheel for loading one or more seeds into each pocket in turn passing the chamber during rotation of the feed wheel; an exit for discharge of seeds from the pockets at a point facing the ground during rotation of the feed wheel; a seed retaining member having an annular surface closely girding the periphery of the feed wheel along the path of rotation of the feed wheel from the loading chamber to the exit to retain seeds in the pockets; a drive wheel in substantially nonslipping contact with the ground; means for coupling the drive wheel to the feed wheel to turn the feed wheel at an angular velocity proportional to the angular velocity of the drive wheel; a seed hopper located above the loading chamber; an opening coupling the seed hopper to the loading chamber near the top thereof to provide a gravity feed for seeds from the hopper to the loading chamber; and a baffle extending from the top of the loading chamber downwardly below the top of the opening adjacent to the feed wheel to prevent the seed level in the region adjacent to the feed wheel from rising as high as the seed level adjacent to the opening.

Claim 16

The seed planter of claim 13, additionally comprising an annular space extending from the top of the loading chamber adjacent to the feed wheel in the direction of rotation to permit seeds at the periphery of the feed wheel to fall back into the loading chamber before meeting the annular surface of the seed retaining member.

Claim 17

The seed planter of claim 14, in which the baffle extends from the top of the loading chamber downwardly to the bottom of the opening.