Abstract:
A nurse distribution system provides dual capabilities for planting different seed varieties from a single planting mechanism. The air cart carries two tanks in which different seed varieties can be placed. The nurse mechanism selectively distributes seed from one tank to the on-row singulation meters, yet can switch to the seed in the second tank to correspond to different soil conditions encountered by the planting mechanism. The planting mechanism carries a first line from the first tank to the nurse receiver and a parallel second line from the second tank to the same nurse receiver. By keeping the nurse receiver as small as possible, thus having a small seed reservoir, the seed variety selection can be switched from one tank to the other in an effective manner.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to air seeders for planting seeds in the ground in an agricultural environment. In particular, the present invention relates to a nurse inductor system co-operable with a planter mechanism to feed multiple varieties of seeds or other particulate materials to a planting mechanism for insertion of those materials into the ground.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    As the size of agricultural implements continues to grow, the versatility of such implements becomes more significant. Large air seeders have become increasingly popular for the planting of seeds, fertilizer, and other product without strict regard for the exact placement of the seeds particles. For crop planting operations that require seed singulation, nurse systems are used to feed seed or other particles from larger hoppers into smaller reservoirs located at the singulation meters. A nurse inductor system enables an air cart typically used for dryland farming (cereal crops, etc.), to be adapted for use in row crop planting applications, such as corn and soybean, though not limited to soybean and corn. A nurse inductor system along with a central fill hopper can be used to enable a farmer to plant more acres before having to stop to fill the planter, resulting in quicker planting and less labor, while maintaining the precision spacing available by on-row singulation.  
           [0003]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,473, a nurse system is disclosed which works off a specialized cart. The air comes into the seed delivery area coaxial with the seed tube that takes the air and seed to the row units. With this system substantial energy is used to nurse the seed since the air changes direction abruptly. This particular nurse system provides a dedicated fan to feed the 12 rows to be planted from the nurse system. This system requires the adding or removing of shims to adjust for different line lengths, which is difficult and inconvenient to accomplish. The seed cart includes two tanks and has a number of primary nurse lines running to each row unit hopper, commonly referred to as parallel distribution. Half of the lines run from one tank while the other half of the planting mechanism is nursed from the second tank. While different seeds can be put in the two tanks, the planter is not capable of switching back and forth between seed varieties to service the entire machine.  
           [0004]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,652, the planter has a hopper mounted on each wing of a front folding tool bar supporting the planting mechanism. This nurse distribution system is a series system with one line running from each hopper and each line serving half of the planting mechanism. Like the nurse system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,473, the two tanks could theoretically carry different seed varieties, but neither tank could deliver alternate seed varieties to the entire machine.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,175 teaches a switching mechanism that allows two different hoppers to supply a single central singulation drum. Seed is singulated at the central hopper and is blown to the seed row. While this patent does not teach a nurse distribution system, the teaching does provide for carrying two different seed varieties on the planter and for switching between the seed varieties. The utilization of a central singulation meter does not provide the capability of producing seed spacing within the row as accurately as individual “on-row” singulation meters. Accordingly, this patent also fails to teach a nurse distribution system that can feed individual on-row planting mechanisms.  
           [0006]    Air seeders are commonly set-up with double or triple shoot air systems. With a double shoot system, the product from one tank is delivered to the opener, and the product from a second tank is delivered to a second part of the same opener. Most air carts have a simple method of switching from a double shoot configuration to a single shoot configuration.  
           [0007]    Another example of a nurse system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,102 to Kongskilde. This nurse system distributes grain from a central hopper to a number of smaller hoppers. A metering device on each small hopper delivers to a number of seed boots. In this particular system, the operator is able to shut off one of the meter rollers independent of the other meter rollers, and is therefore able to stop the rotation of one section on the roller independent of the others. However, this system does not permit the operator to shut off the delivery to any of the nurse lines independently. U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,181 teaches another nurse embodiment with varying problems.  
           [0008]    It is known to be desirable to plant different varieties of the same crop in different soil zones such that the seed variety is matched to the soil conditions for optimal growth opportunities. Coupling the nurse technology to permit the utilization of air seeders to feed row crop planters having a singulator with the desire to plant specific seed varieties in different soil zones of the same field has been a difficult task. Current nursing technology has only focused on the delivery of one type of seed from a central tank to a receiver located above the seed singulator on the row unit, commonly referred to as single shoot. Some systems have a single tank delivering to all receivers; others can have two tanks mounted on the planter, each tank delivering to half of the machine. With the two-tank system it is possible to carry a different variety of seed in each tank, however each tank only serves half of the machine. With these systems it is not possible to have the entire machine plant one variety from the one tank and easily change over to plant a second variety from the second tank.  
           [0009]    It is therefore desirable to provide a nurse inductor system that couples the nurse distribution technology to permit the utilization of air seeders to feed row crop planters having a singulator with the desire to plant specific seed varieties in different soil zones of the same field.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to provide a nurse inductor system that couples the nurse distribution technology to permit the utilization of air seeders to feed row crop planters having a singulation meter with the desire to plant specific seed varieties in different soil zones of the same field.  
           [0011]    It is another object of this invention to provide a nurse inductor system operable for use with planters requiring singulation of the seeds for planting in the ground.  
           [0012]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a nurse inductor system that can be easily switched from one crop variety to another.  
           [0013]    It is a feature of this invention that the nurse inductor system enables the use of an existing air cart for nursing individual planter units in a passive manner.  
           [0014]    It is another feature of this invention that replacement of existing components on a conventional air cart with nurse induction components, to convert the standard air cart without requiring permanent modifications to the cart.  
           [0015]    It is yet another feature of the present invention that the operator can plant seed varieties to match changes in soil types while planting in the field.  
           [0016]    It is another advantage of this invention that switching individual nurse distribution lines to provide multiple seed variety capabilities from one tank to another would not be necessary.  
           [0017]    It is a further feature of this invention that the nurse receiver is kept as small as possible to allow for a quick change from one seed variety to another without interrupting the planting operation.  
           [0018]    It is a further advantage of this invention that the operator can carry a first seed variety in one tank for planting in a first field and a second seed variety in another tank for planting in a second field.  
           [0019]    It is still a further object of this invention to provide a nurse inductor mechanism for an agricultural seeding implement providing dual seed variety planting capability, which is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use.  
           [0020]    These and other objects, features, and advantages are accomplished according to the present invention by providing a nurse distribution system providing dual capabilities for planting different seed varieties from a single planting mechanism. The air cart carries two tanks in which different seed varieties can be placed. The nurse mechanism selectively distributes seed from one tank to the on-row singulators, yet can switch to the seed in the second tank to correspond to different soil conditions encountered by the planting mechanism. The planting mechanism carries a first line from the first tank to the nurse receiver and a parallel second line from the second tank to the same nurse receiver. By keeping the nurse receiver as small as possible, thus having a small seed reservoir, the seed variety selection can be switched from one tank to the other in an effective manner.  
           [0021]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description that follows, in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    The advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a typical air seeder mechanism on which a nurse induction mechanism incorporating the principles of the instant invention is mounted;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the nurse induction system depicted in FIG. 1, the arrows depicting the direction of air flow through the mechanism;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the nurse induction mechanism shown in FIG. 2 to depict the flow of air and seed through the uppermost seed distribution tubes leading to the planting mechanism, the arrows depicting the direction of air flow through the mechanism;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 except depicting the flow of air and seed through the lowermost seed distribution tubes to the corresponding planting mechanism, the arrows depicting the direction of air flow through the mechanism;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a planting mechanism that can be attached to the air seeder depicted in FIG. 1 with the side wing sections being folded down into an operative position;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the nurse system receiver apparatus corresponding to the circled mechanism within FIG. 5;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a planter mechanism similar to that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, depicting a single capability nurse distribution system;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a planter mechanism similar to that of FIG. 7 but having a dual capability nurse distribution system;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a planter mechanism similar to that of FIG. 8 but depicting an alternative dual capability nurse mechanism;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 a  is an enlarged perspective view of the receiver header delivering nursed seed particles to receiver headers;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 10 b  is a top plan view of the receiver header shown in FIG. 10 a;    
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 10 c  is a front elevational view of the receiver header shown in FIG. 10 a;    
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 d  is a side elevational view of the receiver header shown in FIG. 10 a;    
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a planter mechanism incorporating an alternative nurse mechanism utilizing a combiner valve; and  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 12 is a partial schematic view of the quick connect mechanism for the primary nurse lines from each product supply tank to connect the planter primary nurse lines to deliver seed to each row unit. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0038]    Referring first to FIGS.  1 - 7 , the principles of the nurse induction apparatus can best be seen. The nurse inductor  20  enables the use of a standard air cart  10  for both the central hopper and the nurse system air source. The air cart fan can be used for both fertilizing and nursing operations simultaneously. The inductor  20  can be designed in an adapter arrangement which enables the air cart  10  to be readily converted from a roller type volumetric metering system to the nurse inductor system, and vice versa. Such nurse mechanisms are described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,289,830, 6,298,797, and 6,267,067, to Mayerle et al., the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.  
         [0039]    The nurse induction adapter is mounted on a conventional air seeder or air cart, and redirects the air stream  13  coming from the fan  11  in an air cart box  16  into a path that leads through the nurse inductor  20 . The air stream is guided into a nozzle region  24  that directs the air along a flow path that tangentially engages a pile of seed particles S exiting the opening  19  at the bottom of the seed hopper  12 . The turbulence of the blast of air from the nozzle  24  loosens the seed particles from this assemblage of seed particles S exiting the opening  19  in the bottom of the seed hopper  12 , entraining the individual seed particles into the air stream as it follows a path to the distribution lines  22  above the seed particle pile. The individual seed particles remain suspended in the air stream where the air bleeds off and the individual seed particles fall by gravity into a second pile or mass at the planting mechanism.  
         [0040]    The details of a single shoot, or single capability nurse distribution mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,067, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference. As disclosed in the &#39;067 patent, the air stream through the nurse inductor apparatus  20  is split at the general location of the seed particle mass at the bottom of the central seed hopper  12  on the air cart  10  into individual sections that are isolated by generally vertical walls. Each individual section leads to a different seed distribution tube and, ultimately, to a different receiver header  23  and associated receivers  28 . In smaller planting systems, the primary nurse lines  22  run directly to the receivers  28  without benefit of a receiver header  23 . The nurse inductor  20  induces seed particles into the air stream when and where there is demand for the particles. The demand for particles is controlled by the level of product in each respective receiver  28  or receiver header  23  on the output end of the seed distribution tube. When the receiver  28  or receiver header  23  is full, air is restricted from escaping from the seed distribution tube by the massed seed particles within the seed distribution tube. As a result of the filled receiver or receiver header, the vent therein becomes blocked, which prevents the passage of air there through, thus the air flow and air velocity are reduced due to increased pressurization of the line. This resultant reduction in potential air pressure reduces the capacity of the flow of air to induce the seed particles into the corresponding seed distribution tube. Since the flow of air through the nurse inductor  20  is spread across the entire unit, the flow of air will tend to go to the lines that have open receivers because of the less airflow resistance.  
         [0041]    The preferred configuration for dual capability nursed planters is depicted in FIG. 8 as a parallel distribution system  30  designed with each primary line  22  delivering product to a single row unit  25  or seed meter  26 . A nurse distribution line  22  from each central tank  12  is routed to each row unit  25 . Each row unit  25  preferably contains two seed meters  26  that are remotely operated when a change in seed type is required, thus providing an instantaneous change in seed variety that may be optionally controlled by a GPS field locater. Accordingly, this dual capability nurse system  30  provides complete independent control of seed varieties.  
         [0042]    Alternatively, the preferred configuration of the dual capability nurse system  30  could be arranged to reduce cost and complexity, though at the expense of the time required to switch from one seed variety to another seed variety. A single meter  26  would be mounted on the row unit  25  with a multiple compartment receiver (not shown). The multiple compartment receiver  28  would be provided with a flapper to allow communication between only one compartment at a time and the seed meter  26 . An actuator (not shown) to switch between compartments could be remotely activated and electronically controlled by a GPS field locater. A small quantity of seed (e.g., equal to the volume of the seed in the seed meter) would need to be planted to empty the corresponding compartment before communication with the second compartment is initiated. A controller (not shown) would be operable to calculate the time required for the volume of seed remaining in the seed meter  26  to empty. The controller would then timely switch from one compartment to the other to match the location of the changing soil type as defined by a field map. Using a controller in this manner would minimize the time for effecting the change in seed varieties. Alternatively, the second compartment could be opened as the first is closed. This alternative configuration would provide for a greater blended planting time; however, costs would be minimized as the controller, which would use a forecasting algorithm as described above, would not be required.  
         [0043]    A second preferred dual capability nurse distribution system  32  configuration for nursed planting mechanisms is depicted in FIG. 9. This alternative configuration  32  is also a parallel distribution system designed with each primary line  22  delivering seed product to a nurse header  23  that splits the product to two adjacent row units  25 . This second dual capability nurse distribution system  32  presents a cost reduced version as compared to the first preferred dual capability nurse distribution system  30 ; however, this second system  32  suffers slightly with respect to providing a quick change between seed varieties while planting “on the go”. A small receiver  28  is mounted on the seed singulator on each row unit  25 . A nurse header  23 , shown in FIGS. 10 a - 10   b , with two or more outlets  43  delivers seed down a flexible hose to the receiver  28 . The single inlet to the header  23 , as is disclosed in aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,067, is replaced with two or more inlets  45  allowing product from a corresponding number of central tanks  12  on the air cart  10  to access the receiver  28  and the seed meter. Either the product regulator on the nurse inductor box or the air supply to each tank  12  must be altered to stop the seed delivery from the associated tank  12 . Controlling the alteration of the seed delivery can be accomplished remotely to switch seed varieties between the two tanks  12  “on the go”. Accordingly, a limited zone within the planted part of the field, when switching from one seed variety to the other in the field, would consequently be planted with a mixture of seed varieties.  
         [0044]    A second configuration for smaller nursed planters is a parallel distribution system designed with each primary line delivering product to a single row unit. A small receiver is mounted onto one seed meter on each row unit. The inlet to the receiver is replaced with two or more inlets allowing product from a corresponding number of central tanks access to the receiver and seed meter. The air to the tank or the product regulator on the nurse inductor box would be remotely activated to stop the delivery of seed from one of the tanks and start the delivery to the second tank, thereby switching varieties. As before, there is a zone in the field that would be planted with a mixture of seed varieties.  
         [0045]    A third configuration for a dual capability nurse distribution system  35  is shown in FIG. 11, and entails a single-shoot distribution system, as described in the &#39;067 patent, with a combiner/selector valve  50  for each primary nurse line  22 , mounted near the central tanks  12 . The combiner/selector valve  50  is designed to allow the flow of seeds from one of the tanks  12   a ,  12   b . A single primary nurse line  22  from each tank  12   a , 12   b  is combined at the valve  50 , which is configured to allow seed flow from one of the central tanks  12  to the row unit  25  or nurse header  23 . For example, on a 40 foot wide planter configured to plant seeds in rows having a 30 inch spacing, sixteen seed meters are fed with eight primary nurse lines  22 . A bank of eight combiner valves  50  could be configured to use the entire seed product from tank  12   a  before switching to access the seed product from the second tank  12   b . An alternative configuration of the combiner/selector valve bank  50  could involve four combiner valves  50  cooperable with the first tank  12   a  and four additional combiner valves  50  cooperable with the second tank  12   b , thus allowing tanks  12   a  and  12   b  to drain simultaneously, if tanks  12   a  and  12   b  were of equal size. This configuration would give the operator the capability to carry additional seed for additional fields, or alternatively, to use the entire capacity of the combined tanks  12  in one field. The operation of the combiner/selector valves  50  could be remotely controlled to change tanks “on the go”; however, the use of a remote controller would create greater lag times compared to above-described configurations, but would be the most cost-effective method of delivering seed product from the two tanks  12   a ,  12   b  to the entire width of the planter mechanism, either individually or simultaneously.  
         [0046]    An alternate embodiment of the third dual capability nurse distribution system  35  configuration includes structure to permit a quick change of distribution lines  22  between tanks  12   a ,  12   b . As depicted in FIG. 12, the primary nurse lines  22  from the tanks  12   a ,  12   b  are supported in groups on a plurality of quick-connect mechanisms  55 . A corresponding quick connect adapter structure  56  is engagable with and cooperable with the quick connect mechanisms  55  to couple the primary nurse lines  22  to the product delivery lines  22   a  to allow seed product to be delivered from the tanks  12   a ,  12   b . Since the quick connect mechanisms  55  can be individually connected to a corresponding quick connect adapter  56 , seed product can be delivered from the first tank  12   a  by connecting the quick connect mechanisms  55  associated the first tank  12   a  to all of the adapters  56 , or from the second tank  12   b  by connecting the quick connect mechanisms  55  associated with the second tank  12   b  to all of the adapters  56 , or to combine delivery of seed product from both tanks  12   a ,  12   b  by connecting selected quick connect mechanisms  55  from both tanks  12   a ,  12   b  (mixing and matching as desired) to the adapters  56 .  
         [0047]    The unused quick connect mechanisms  55  can be stored on an adjacent mounting bracket  59  to seal the ends of the primary nurse lines  22  which eliminates airflow, and, as a result, eliminates product being nursed down the inactive lines  22 . The operator can selectively arrange the quick connect mechanisms  55  to get the desired seed product mix from the desired tanks  12   a ,  12   b . The utilization of the quick connect mechanisms  55  is an alternative to the use of a combiner/selector valve  50  as describe above. The potential cost savings of the quick connect mechanisms  55  is offset by the inconvenience of having to manually switch quick connect mechanisms  55  each time a different seed variety mix is desired.  
         [0048]    One skilled in the art will recognize that a combinations of FIGS. 11 and 12 would result in a quick connect mechanism  55  located at the beginning at the nurse distribution lines  22  where the lines  22  originate at the nurse inductor box  20  instead of at the distal end of the distribution lines  22  as is shown in FIG. 12. Such a configuration would permit the distribution lines  22  to be quickly and easily attached to either nurse mechanism  20  associated with two tanks  12   a ,  12   b . In this configuration, only one of the nurse mechanisms  20  would be operable at a time to deliver seed to all of the row units across the transverse width of the associated planting mechanism that are activated for engagement with the ground for planting seeds therein. One skilled in the art will recognize that in some planter configurations, some row units are not activated when planting certain crops. For example, for a planter mechanism configured to plant soy beans in rows have a 15 inch spacing, the same configuration can be used to plant corn at 30 inch row spacings by deactivating alternate row units. The principal of the instant invention would provide a nurse mechanism that would be selectively operable to distribute seed from one of two tanks to those row units that are activated and engaged with the ground for the purpose of planting seed.  
         [0049]    The invention of this application has been described above both generically and with regard to specific embodiments. Although the invention has been set forth in what is believed to be the preferred embodiments, a wide variety of alternatives known to those of skill in the art can be selected within the generic disclosure. The invention is not otherwise limited, except for the recitation of the claims set forth below.