Patent ID: 6763780
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
A method of planting seed, said method comprising:attaching a fill level indicator to a seed hopper having a bin with a removable bin cover wherein the bin defines an agricultural material containing volume for containing a variable quantity of agricultural material defining an agricultural material volume upper boundary having a vertical position which varies with changes in the variable quantity of agricultural material contained within the bin, the removable bin cover removably securable to the bin, the bin cover having an interior surface and an exterior surface and defining an indicator opening extending through said cover between the interior and exterior surfaces, the indicator opening being positioned above the agricultural material containing volume when the bin cover is secured to the bin; an elongate sighting member secured to the bin cover over the indicator opening and extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the bin cover, the sighting member having a transparent portion providing visual access to an elongate volume defined within the sighting member, the sighting member providing a substantially water impermeable cover and inhibiting entry of water into the bin through the indicator opening; and an elongate indicator member extending through the indicator opening and having a first end and an opposite second end wherein the first end is disposed within the elongate volume defined by the sighting member, the elongate indicator having a visually distinctive marking proximate the first end, the indicator member is movable relative to the bin cover wherein relative movement of the indicator member repositions the distinctive marking within the sighting member, the second end having a foot defining a substantially planar surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the elongate indicator member, the planar surface facing the agricultural material containing volume when the bin cover is secured to the bin, the relative movement of the indicator member repositioning the planar surface relative to the bin cover interior surface, the planar surface is adapted to engage agricultural material disposed within the bin, gravitational forces urge the planar surface into contact with agricultural material disposed within the bin and position the planar surface at the agricultural material volume upper boundary when the cover is secured to the bin; reducing the quantity of agricultural material within the bin repositioning the distinctive marking within the sighting member; and refilling the bin during planting operations when the visually distinctive marking descends to a position indicating that the bin is depleted.