Abstract:
A device and method for hand planting cereal grain seed, and other crops where singulation (single seeds planted per strike) is taught. The device and method are capable of serving as a small scale fertilizer and alternative product applicator. The inventive method includes the capability of applying fertilizer and/or other products that are collected and dispensed via a reciprocating drum device. The device preferably includes a tapered (or pointed) soil engagement component capable of striking or penetrating the soil surface. With each planter strike to the soil surface, the device is actuated to meter a granular material product and the reciprocating drum rotates to expose the cavity to a material hopper. As the actuation force is released, the reciprocating drum rotates in the opposite direction to its original location and drops the material that has been metered.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/799,338, filed Mar. 15, 2013, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to a device for hand planting cereal grain seed and other crops where singulation (single seeds planted per strike) is needed. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to a method for metering granular products including but not limited to seed, fertilizer, and chemicals. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Current cereal grain producers in the third world do not have access to hand-planting systems capable of singulating seed. As an example, one problem with current techniques for planning maize in the third world (e.g., Sub Saharan Africa, Asia, Central and South America) is that the farmer essentially uses a heavy stick whereby 2-3 seeds are planted per hill roughly 35 cm apart. Although this is incredibly inefficient, this method of planting is commonplace for third world maize farmers, this approach being largely dictated by terrain, circumstance, and resources. Single seeds planted 14-17 cm apart, much like conventional planters accomplish in the developed world, result in increased yields. Despite the fact that third world maize yields are generally less than 2.0 Mg/ha, a 25% yield increase on 60% of the hand planted maize area in the third world would be worth more than 2.4 billion dollars/year. 
         [0006]    Of course, when 2-3 seeds are placed in the same hole, up to 2 of the 3 that emerge usually abort later in the cycle. 
         [0007]    Therefore if one seed could be placed in each depression, lower populations could be planted, better plant stand homogeneity could be achieved and that would lead to increased grain yields. Increased maize grain yields are common place when homogeneity of plant stands is achieved. 
         [0008]    Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient method for planting seed of various types whereby singulation (single seeds planted per strike) is achieved. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a viable method of fertilizing macronutrients (N—Nitrogen, P—Phosphorus, K—Potassium) for the landscapes where everything is accomplished by hand. Placing N fertilizer (particularly urea) below the surface, really via any mechanism is critical for improved nitrogen use efficiency. By placing urea beneath the soil surface soil, ammonia (NH3) volatilization losses are essentially eliminated, thus increasing use efficiency. 
         [0010]    Heretofore, as is well known in the agriculture arts there has been a need for an invention to address and solve the disadvantages of prior art approaches. Accordingly it should now be recognized, as was recognized by the present inventors, that there exists, and has existed for some time, a very real need for a system and method that would address and solve the above-described and other problems. 
         [0011]    Before proceeding to a description of the present invention, however, it should be noted and remembered that the description of the invention which follows, together with the accompanying drawings, should not be construed as limiting the invention to the examples (or embodiments) shown and described. This is so because those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be able to devise other forms of this invention within the ambit of the appended claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is a device and method for metering granular products including but not limited to seed, fertilizer, and chemicals. The device is capable of serving as a small scale fertilizer and alternative product applicator. 
         [0013]    The present invention provides a device for metering dry granular products and placing them beneath the soil surface. The specific purpose is for planting single cereal grain seeds. This device is made possible via gravity delivery of seed/fertilizers to a reciprocating drum with alternative shaped cavities. The shape of the cavities can be varied based on the type of product being applied. The device preferably includes a tapered (or pointed) soil engagement component capable of striking or penetrating the soil surface. With each planter strike to the soil surface, the device is actuated to meter a granular material product wherein a preferable substantially cylindrical reciprocating drum rotates to expose the cavity to the material hopper. As the actuation force is released, the reciprocating drum rotates in the opposite direction to its original location and drops the material that has been metered. The process could be reversed if it is found to be suitable for a particular application wherein the metered material is deposited when the activation force is applied. Cavities in the reciprocating drum can be modified for different seeds and/or fertilizers. Specifically, cavities can be optimized to singulate maize seed. This tool offers an affordable, easily adoptable technology for all third world cereal grain farmers. 
         [0014]    Also, the inventive process is particularly well suited to the mid-season application of nitrogen and/or other nutrients where deficiencies can be corrected from pre-season applications. 
         [0015]    Added benefits of the hand planter/fertilizer applicator of the present disclosure will be to remove chemically treated seeds (organophosphates, carbamates, chlordanes, and others known to be present or may be present) from the hands of small farmers. Decreased soil erosion from improved contour planting, and plant proximity will also be achieved. 
         [0016]    The foregoing has outlined in broad terms some of the more important features of the invention disclosed herein so that the detailed description that follows may be more clearly understood, and so that the contribution of the instant inventors to the art may be better appreciated. The instant invention is not to be limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various other ways not specifically enumerated herein. Finally, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting, unless the specification specifically so limits the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
           [0018]      FIGS. 1A-1D  depict multiple views of the reciprocating lever of the metering device of an embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 2A-2D  depict multiple views of the reciprocating drum of the metering device of an embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3A-3D  depicts multiple views of the external housing of the metering device of an embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 4A-4C  depict multiple views of the reciprocating drum housing of the metering device of an embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5A-5E  depict multiple views of the assembled metering device of an embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  contains an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of an assembled metering system and soil engaging device of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side partial cutaway view of an alternate embodiment metering system and soil engaging device of the present disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  depicts a farmer utilizing an embodiment of the metering system and soil engagement device of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Before explaining an embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is important to understand that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction illustrated and the steps described herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  provides multiple views of an embodiment including a side view of the reciprocating lever  12  of the metering device  10  of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the reciprocating lever  12  attaches to the reciprocating drum  22  ( FIG. 2 ) and transfers longitudinal motion along the axis of the external housing  16  (such as when the device is actuated by driving it into the soil) into rotary motion which can be used to rotate the reciprocating drum to meter granular product which may be contained in a hopper as is discussed in greater detail below. As is generally indicated in this figure, in one embodiment the external housing  16  will be generally cylindrical in shape and round in cross section, although that is not a requirement and other cross sectional shapes are would certainly be possible. Additionally, various external shapes might be chosen for the housing  16  but what is more important for operational purposes is the configuration of the housing&#39;s hollow interior  55  as compared with the outer surface of the reciprocating drum housing  30 . That is, it would be preferred that the shape of the exterior of the reciprocating drum housing  30  should be matched to (or otherwise operable with) the shape of the interior  55  of the external housing  16  so as to allow manually initiated relative movement. In the present example, both are circular in cross section which would be useful in many instances. 
         [0028]    According to this embodiment, the reciprocating lever  12  mounts to a plate  18  ( FIG. 3 ) on the external housing  16  by inserting a pin  15  ( FIG. 5 ) through the guide slot  14  which is retained (fixed) to the plate  18  in a known manner. Pin  15  may be permanently attached to external housing  16  with the reciprocating lever  12  held in place by a cap on pin  15  or other means of restraint. Reciprocating lever  12  also includes a cam receiver  20  for receiving a cam  24  of reciprocating drum  22  ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0029]    Continuing with the current embodiment,  FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of the reciprocating drum  22  and cavity  28  for use with a product/material such as grain, for example. The cavity  28  can be made to accommodate various granular materials and effectively meters the product with precision. In some embodiments, this might be done by making the reciprocating drum  22  removable so that it can be replaced by a similarly sized drum with a cavity  28  of a different size (e.g., different in length, width, depth, shape, etc.), or by making the cavity size adjustable by inserting containers of different size into the cavity  28  void. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand how such changes might be made. 
         [0030]    In this embodiment, the reciprocating drum  22  is preferably cylindrical and includes a cam  24  on one (first) end and a rotational support  26  on the other (second) end. Cam  24  preferably includes a flattened segment  21  so as to be “keyed” with cam receiver  20  but could be of any desired geometry. Having the cam  24  “keyed” allows indexes the cavity  28  with the guide slot  14  to control rotation of the reciprocating drum  22 . However, since according to the current embodiment cam  24  is inserted into cam receiver  20  of reciprocating lever  12 , cam  24  and cam receiver  20  preferably will have the same basic geometry. Cam  24  may be removably secured to reciprocating drum  22  to facilitate assembly or modification of the metering system  10  of the present disclosure. 
         [0031]    The embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 5  makes clearer one configuration of the external housing  16  of the metering system  10  of the present disclosure. The housing  16  surrounds the reciprocating drum housing  30  and serves as a mounting location for the soil engaging component  40 . The reciprocating drum housing  30  slides in a substantially longitudinal fashion internally inside the external housing  16 . 
         [0032]    The reciprocating lever  12  connects to the external housing  16  and provides the rotary movement of the reciprocating drum  22  when the external housing  16  and reciprocating drum housing  30  move relative to each other. The cross-sectional geometry of both external housing  16  and reciprocating drum housing  30  may be substantially round as is indicated in the embodiments  FIGS. 3 and 5 . However, it is understood that other geometries are contemplated and within the ability of one of ordinary skill in the art to devise and all that is required of this embodiment is that the reciprocating drum  22  be longitudinally movable with respect to the external housing, whatever the cross-sectional shape of the two elements. Additionally, although the external housing  16  and reciprocating drum housing  30  are shown as being solid and generally cylindrical in shape, it should be noted that it is possible that apertures might be cut in one or the other of these elements which might be used to reduce the weight, material cost, etc. of the inventive device. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  provides a diagram of one embodiment of the reciprocating drum housing  30  that slides inside the external housing  16 . Reciprocating drum housing  30  contains a hopper  38  that contains and stores product/material to be metered by reciprocating drum  22  and deposited into the soil that is adjacent to the soil engagement component  40 . In an embodiment, the hopper  38  might be integral to and inside of the reciprocating drum housing  30  but that is not a requirement. In some embodiments, the soil engagement component  40  might be removable so that it can be replaced or sharpened. 
         [0034]    Continuing with the current example, the reciprocating drum housing  30  includes a channel  34  for receiving a reciprocating drum  22  therein. In a preferred arrangement, channel  34  is substantially the same diameter as the maximum external dimension (diameter) of reciprocating drum  22 . Reciprocating drum  22  is inserted through channel  34  such that rotational support  26  extends into and preferably through a rotational hole  36  in reciprocating drum housing  30 . In this embodiment, rotational hole  36  is preferably round and preferably substantially matches the diameter of rotational support  26 . Accordingly, when reciprocating drum  22  is inserted into reciprocating drum housing  30  it is supported in channel  34  on one (first) end and by end rotational hole  36  on the other (second) end. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 5A-5F  provide examples of the assembled metering system  10  and soil engaging device consistent with the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         [0036]    As can be seen herein, upon assembly, cam  24  extends from reciprocating drum  22  supported within reciprocating drum housing  30  such that it extends through linear slot  17  of external housing  16  and into guide slot  14  of reciprocating lever  12 . The guide slot  14  might be linear as is indicated in the figures hereto, or some other (e.g., curved) configuration. Reciprocating lever  12  is supported from external housing  16  by pin  15  so that reciprocating lever  12  can freely rotate and reciprocate with respect to pin  15  by pin  15  sliding in guide slot  14  and reciprocating lever  12  rotating around pin  15 . 
         [0037]    When metering device  10  is actuated as a result of a downward force by the farmer forcing soil engagement component  40  into the soil, reciprocating drum housing  30  slides downward within external housing  16 . Cam  24  of reciprocating drum  22  supported within reciprocating drum housing  30  is likewise forced downward causing reciprocating lever  12  to reciprocate with respect to pin  15  of external housing  16 . This reciprocation also causes reciprocating lever  12  to rotate about pin  15  as cam  24  slides in linear slot  32 . 
         [0038]    Rotation of reciprocating lever  12  causes cam  24  secured (keyed) within cam receiver  20  to rotate. Rotation of cam  24  causes reciprocating drum  22  to rotate within reciprocating drum housing  30 . Rotation of reciprocating drum  22  positions cavity  28  below the segment of hopper  38  allowing material/product (such as another seed) contained within the hopper  38  to drop into cavity  28  of reciprocating drum  22 . Thus, reciprocating drum  22  of metering device  10  is loaded. 
         [0039]    Release of the downward force by the farmer, such as by lifting metering device  10  allows external housing  16  (preferably by gravity although it might be assisted by biasing force(s) such as an internal or external spring, etc.), to slide downward and/or reciprocating drum housing  30  to slide upward. Cam  24  of reciprocating drum  22  supported within reciprocating drum housing  30  likewise slides upward within linear slot  32  causing reciprocating lever  12  to reciprocate in the opposite direction with respect to pin  15 . This reciprocation causes reciprocating lever  12  to rotate in the opposite direction about pin  15  as cam  24  slides in linear slot  32 . Rotation of reciprocating lever  12  causes cam  24  secured (keyed) within cam receiver  20  to rotate in the opposition direction. Rotation of cam  24  in the opposite direction causes reciprocating drum  22  to rotate in the opposite direction within reciprocating drum housing  30 . Rotation of reciprocating drum  22  causes a material/product (such as a seed) contained within cavity  28  of reciprocating drum  22  to drop out of cavity  28 , which is deposited out of external housing  16  adjacent soil engagement component  40  and into the soil. The actuation described here results in the metered material being released on the upward movement of reciprocating drum housing  30  relative to the external housing  16 . Additionally, it should be noted that the indexing of the reciprocating drum  22  could be reversed such that the metered material is released on the downward movement of the reciprocating drum housing  30  relative to the external housing  16 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 6 and 7  depict alternate embodiments of the meter of the present disclosure.  FIG. 8  depicts a farmer employing an embodiment of the metering device of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In this particular embodiment the inventive device is used in conjunction with a detachable handle  80 . Generally speaking, this embodiment is configured as described previously with reciprocating drum housing  30  being situated within an external housing  16 , with the relative movement of these two elements providing force for rotating the reciprocating drum  22 . Additionally, an external biasing force (spring  60 ) has been added which would help restore the device  10  to its pre-engagement position. Further, this embodiment utilizes a plate  61  which is designed to help hold the reciprocating drum in place and a soil engagement component  62  that is designed to be removable for purposes of sharping, replacement, etc. 
         [0041]    Finally, what is key is that a rotatable drum that contains one or more cavities therein be urged into rotation by manually initiated relative movement of inner and outer housing elements. The cavity in the rotating drum must be positionable to be alternatively in communication with a hopper containing seeds or other materials and the ground. The drum cavity will be sized to acquire and dispense a limited number or amount of such seeds or other materials in conjunction with a downward stroke and/or upward recoil of the metering device, to include instances when the materials are actually dispensed as the instant invention is withdrawn from contact with the soil. The rotational force might be supplied by relative movement of an inner and outer housing as is taught herein or by some other mechanism including, but not limited to, a rack and pinion or a linkage connecting the outer housing to the metering device that could potentially amplify its rotation. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily be able to devise other methods of using the relative motion between the housing elements to rotate a drum according to the invention. 
         [0042]    It should also be noted that, while farming applications of the inventive device and method were discussed in relation to the various embodiments, the invention is not to be so limited. The inventive method could be used to improve the efficiency of planting virtually any crop and for landscapes where mechanization is not possible or desirable. 
         [0043]    The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a ranger having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. Terms of approximation (e. g., “about”, “substantially”, “approximately”, etc.) should be interpreted according to their ordinary and customary meanings as used in the associated art unless indicated otherwise. Absent a specific definition and absent ordinary and customary usage in the associated art, such terms should be interpreted to be ±10% of the base value. 
         [0044]    When, in this document, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number)”, this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 should be interpreted to mean a range whose lower limit is 25 and whose upper limit is 100. Additionally, it should be noted that where a range is given, every possible subrange or interval within that range is also specifically intended unless the context indicates to the contrary. For example, if the specification indicates a range of 25 to 100 such range is also intended to include subranges such as 26-100, 27-100, etc., 25-99, 25-98, etc., as well as any other possible combination of lower and upper values within the stated range, e.g., 33-47, 60-97, 41-45, 28-96, etc. Note that integer range values have been used in this paragraph for purposes of illustration only and decimal and fractional values (e. g., 46.7-91.3) should also be understood to be intended as possible subrange endpoints unless specifically excluded. 
         [0045]    It should be noted that where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where context excludes that possibility), and the method can also include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all of the defined steps (except where context excludes that possibility). 
         [0046]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and is herein described in detail, some specific embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit it to the specific embodiments or algorithms so described. Those of ordinary skill in the art will be able to make various changes and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, without departing from the spirit of the inventive concept, the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims. 
         [0047]    Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.