Hydraulic scale for determining seeding density of a planter and method

A hydraulic scale for planter calibration is disclosed. The hydraulic scale includes a tube having indicia disposed thereon. The tube has a substantially closed bottom and a substantially open top. The indicia disposed on the tube include at least one scale having a zero line. The tube is configured to float substantially upright when positioned in a liquid, such that the zero line is substantially aligned with the surface of the liquid. A non-zero line portion of the scale is configured to align with the surface of the liquid when at least one of seeds and feed are placed within the tube.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus which measures seeds, fertilizers, insecticide and/or other granulated products. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a hydraulic scale for determining the seeding density of a planter.

2. Background of the Art

Farmers and other fieldworkers typically purchase various amounts of seed to plant in a planting filed. Tractors and other types of planters are often used to distribute and/or plant seeds and/or feed in the field. It is often a difficult task to determines how much seed being planted in a particular area or field and/or to determine if a particular planter is sufficiently calibrated. Further, this problem is magnified because different planters place seeds at different rates.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic scale for planter calibration. The hydraulic scale includes a tube having indicia disposed thereon. The tube has a substantially closed bottom and a substantially open top. The indicia disposed on the tube include at least one scale having a zero line. The tube is configured to float substantially upright when positioned in a liquid (e.g., water), such that the zero line is substantially aligned with the surface of the water. A non-zero line portion of the scale is configured to align with the surface of the water when at least one of seeds and feed are placed within the tube.

The present disclosure also relates to a method of determining the seeding density of a planter. The method includes the steps of providing a hydraulic scale, including a tube having indicia thereon. The tube is configured to float substantially upright when positioned in a liquid, such that a zero line disposed on the tube is substantially aligned with the surface of the liquid. A non-zero line portion of the scale is configured to align with the surface of the liquid when at least one of seeds and feed are placed within the tube. The method also includes the steps of collecting seeds placed by a planter as the planter travels a distance, placing the seed within the hydraulic scale, placing the hydraulic scale within a liquid, and observing where the surface of the liquid intersects the scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the presently disclosed hydraulic scale are now described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views.

A hydraulic scale in accordance with the present disclosure is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2and is referred to by reference numeral100. Hydraulic scale100includes a tube110having indicia120disposed thereon. Tube110includes a top portion112, which is substantially open and a bottom portion114, which is substantially closed. Indicia120include at least one scale122having a zero line124.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, tube110is configured to float substantially upright (i.e., top portion112being in an upward position) when hydraulic scale100is positioned in a liquid200(e.g., water). Further, hydraulic scale100is weighted such that zero line124of scale122substantially aligns with a surface202of water200, when hydraulic scale100is substantially empty.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, tube110includes at least one groove130disposed therein (three grooves130a-130care shown). Each groove130is configured to removably accept a weighted ring140(a single weighted ring140is shown at least partially within groove130c). Thus, if hydraulic scale100is not optimally calibrated (i.e., surface202of water200is not substantially aligned with zero line124of scale122when hydraulic scale100is substantially empty), a user can insert (or remove) at least one weighted ring140into (or from) a respective groove130to help calibrate hydraulic scale100.

To use hydraulic scale100, a quantity of seed250(and/or feed) is collected and is placed into hydraulic scale100and hydraulic scale100is placed in water200in a substantially upright position. The weight of seed250causes hydraulic scale100to move lower with respect to surface202of water200, such that surface202is aligned with a non-zero portion of scale122. As can be appreciated, the more seed250placed within tube110, the lower hydraulic scale100moves with respect to surface202of water200, thus corresponding to a higher number on scale122. Moreover, different types of crops generally require different types of fertilizers, insecticides and/or seeding densities.

With reference toFIG. 3, a contemplated use of hydraulic scale100is to determine the seeding (or sowing) density of a piece of equipment, such as a planter, seed drill, etc. (hereinafter referred to as planter300). Generally, planter300includes drillers310, which place seeds250in soil400, and specifically in furrows410in soil400. Drillers310of planter300are typically spaced substantially equidistantly from an adjacent driller. The distance between drillers310is referred to as letter x inFIG. 3. Distance x is typically adjustable and may be optimally set based on the type of seed250being planted.

To determine the seeding density of a particular planter300, the area covered by each driller310of planter300is first calculated. The area covered by each driller310is calculated by multiplying the distance x between drillers310by the distance traveled by planter300. The distance traveled by planter300is referred to as letter y inFIG. 3. For example, if there is 1.7 feet (0.525 meters) between drillers310(x), and planter300travels 164 feet (50 meters) (y), the area covered by each driller310is:
x*y, or
1.7 feet*164 feet=279 ft2(or 0.00640 acres).

Next, the relation between the quantity of seeds250distributed over this area and the weight of such seeds250is required. Thus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the seeds250distributed by a driller310of planter300are collected during a sample-obtaining run. To obtain these seeds250, a user may remove a hose that connects a seed dosificator with a furrow opener and place a collecting structure (e.g., a bag) at an end of the hose to collect the seeds250placed by planter300along a distance y (e.g., 164 feet).

The seed250collected by the above method is then placed in hydraulic scale100and hydraulic scale100is placed in water200. The user then reads where surface202of water200intersects scale122(a non-zero line portion). This reading is the seeding density of the planter300(or of each driller310). It is envisioned that hydraulic scale100includes several scales122thereon. According to a disclosed embodiment, each of several scales122relates to a different amount of area covered by each driller310of planter300. For instance, a first scale122amay include a distance x of 1.7 feet and a distance y of 164 feet (and/or an area of 0.00640 acres), a second scale122bmay include a distance x of 0.57 feet and a distance y of 164 feet (and/or an area of 0.00216 acres), etc. In an embodiment where hydraulic scale100includes more than one scale122, the user reads surface202of water200where it intersects the appropriate scale122.

Once the seeding density of planter300is known, the user can determine if planter300has the desired/required seeding density for a given task.