Patent Description:
<CIT> describes a seeding machine with a commodity (seed) delivery apparatus comprising a housing in which an endless member moves to transport the seed into a furrow. At the lower return point of the endless member, seed is released and moves on a flat bottom extending tangentially to the bottom of the housing where the seed is released into the furrow. It can be assumed that the housing has side walls that also are provided at the lateral ends of the flat bottom and at the upwardly moving side of the endless member (as shown for example in fig. <NUM> of <CIT>).

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the following description and annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative aspects and implementations. These are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which one or more aspects may be employed. Other aspects, advantages and novel features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings.

What is disclosed herein may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, and will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:.

The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are generally used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in order to facilitate describing the claimed subject matter.

An example of an agricultural seeding machine <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The seeding machine <NUM> may have a central frame <NUM> on which are mounted a plurality of individual planting units <NUM>. The seeding machine <NUM> may have a fore-aft direction shown by the arrow <NUM> and a transverse direction shown by the arrow <NUM>. Each planting unit <NUM> may be coupled to the central frame <NUM> by a parallel linkage <NUM> so that the individual planting units <NUM> may move up and down to a limited degree relative to the frame <NUM>. Large storage tanks <NUM> hold commodity such as seed or fertilizer that may be delivered pneumatically to a mini-hopper on each planting unit <NUM>.

The agricultural seeding machine <NUM> travels in the direction of arrow <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Each planting unit <NUM> may have a frame member <NUM> as shown in <FIG> to which the components of the planting unit are mounted. The frame member <NUM> may comprise a pair of upstanding arms <NUM> at the forward end of thereof. The arms <NUM> are coupled to the rearward ends of the parallel linkage <NUM>. Furrow opening disks may be attached to a shaft <NUM> in a known manner to form an open furrow in the soil beneath the seeding machine into which seed is deposited. Closing and packing wheels are also mounted to the frame member <NUM> in a known manner to close the furrow over the deposited seed and to firm the soil in the closed furrow. A rock guard <NUM> may extend downwardly from the shaft <NUM> and forward of a second debris guard (described below) to further protect the endless member <NUM> from encountering large debris such as rocks, gravel or other larger objects.

A seed meter <NUM> and a seed delivery system <NUM> may also be attached to the frame member <NUM> of the planting unit. A support member <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> and preferably an idler body <NUM>. An endless member <NUM> carries the commodity and is at least partially disposed within the housing <NUM>. An idler body <NUM> may extend out of the housing <NUM> with a pulley to tension the endless member <NUM>. In some implementations, the housing <NUM> may comprise the idler body <NUM>. In other implementations, the housing <NUM> and the idler body <NUM> may be separate components. In another example, the endless member <NUM> may be entirely enclosed or substantially entirely enclosed inside the housing <NUM>. In one example, the endless member <NUM> may be a brush belt. In another embodiment, the endless member may be a conveyor belt. In another implementation, the endless member <NUM> may be a flighted belt. In another implementation, the endless member <NUM> may be a flighted brush. In another implementation, the endless member may be at portion of at least one or more of a conveyor belt, a bush belt, a flighted brush, and a flighted belt.

With continued reference to the housing <NUM>, the housing may further comprise a first side <NUM> and a second side <NUM> oppositely disposed form the first side <NUM>. A rear edge wall <NUM> may be operably connecting the first side <NUM> and the second side <NUM>. A front edge wall <NUM> may be oppositely disposed from the rear edge wall <NUM> and be operably connected to the first side <NUM> and the second <NUM>. The housing <NUM> has a first opening (not shown) through which commodity, such as seed, is received and a second opening <NUM> through which commodity exits before it is disposed into the targeted furrow.

A commodity debris guard <NUM> for a commodity delivery apparatus for transferring a commodity to a furrow is described. The commodity debris guard <NUM> comprises a first debris guard <NUM> and a second debris guard <NUM>. The first debris guard <NUM> and the second debris guard <NUM> is operatively connected to the support member <NUM>, such as the housing <NUM> and/or the idler body <NUM>. In some implementations, the first debris guard <NUM> may be coupled to the housing <NUM>. Alternatively, the first debris guard <NUM> may be fixed directly to the housing <NUM>. Still further, the first debris guard <NUM> may be coupled to the idler body <NUM>. Alternatively, the first debris guard <NUM> may be fixed directly to the idler body <NUM>. In some implementations, the second debris guard <NUM> may be coupled to the housing <NUM>. Alternatively, the second debris guard <NUM> may be fixed directly to the housing <NUM>. Still further, the second debris guard <NUM> may be coupled to the idler body <NUM>. Alternatively, the second debris guard <NUM> may be fixed directly to the idler body <NUM>.

The first debris guard <NUM> may be operably connected to the housing <NUM>. The first debris guard <NUM> comprises a base <NUM> and upwardly extending side portions <NUM>. The first debris guard <NUM> is configured to mitigate debris from contacting the endless member <NUM> positioned at least partially within the housing <NUM>. The upwardly extending side portions <NUM> may be configured to assist the mitigation of debris entering the housing <NUM> and contacting or engaging with the endless member <NUM> and thus, the metering system.

The first debris guard <NUM> may comprise an upper substantially linear portion <NUM> and a lower curved portion <NUM>. The upper substantially linear portion <NUM> and the lower curved portion <NUM> each comprising the base <NUM> and upwardly extending sidewalls <NUM>. In one example, the base <NUM> of the substantially linear portion <NUM> may comprise ribbing <NUM> for increased rigidity and strength. In one implementation, the upwardly extending sidewalls <NUM> may generally increase in length from a first end <NUM> to the first debris guard to a second end <NUM> of the first debris guard <NUM>. In one implementation, the length of the upwardly extending sidewalls <NUM> may be of sufficient length to cover or substantially cover the endless member <NUM>. As shown in the FIGURES, the upwardly extending sidewalls <NUM> of the lower curved portion <NUM> may increase along the curve of the lower curved portion <NUM>. The length of the upwardly extending sidewall is shorter proximate the linear portion <NUM>, and as the lower curved portion <NUM> extends along the curve towards the front edge wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, the length increases. The length of the upwardly extending sidewall <NUM> may be greatest proximate the second end <NUM> Proximate the first end <NUM>, the first debris guard <NUM> may comprise a tab <NUM>. The tab <NUM> may be operably connected to the first end <NUM>. The tab <NUM> may have a width w that may be less than a width of the first debris guard <NUM>. The tab <NUM> may slidably engage and into a slot <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

A forked attachment body <NUM> may provide additional operational engagement between the first debris guard <NUM> and the idler body <NUM>. Two fork sections <NUM> terminate in a base section <NUM> defining an opening <NUM> therebetween. A stud <NUM> may extend from the first side <NUM> of the housing. When the first debris guard <NUM> is positioned, the stud may be disposed at least partially or completely through the opening <NUM> to provide another attachment location between the first debris guard <NUM> and the housing <NUM>. Further, the base <NUM> may be proximate the endless member <NUM>, and one upwardly extending sidewall <NUM> may be proximate the first side <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the other upwardly extending sidewall <NUM> being proximate the second side <NUM> of the housing.

A second debris guard <NUM> is operably connected to the support member <NUM>, such as the idler body <NUM> and disposed forward and below the first debris guard <NUM>. The second debris guard <NUM> is e configured to mitigate debris from entering the housing <NUM> and contacting the endless member <NUM>. The second debris guard <NUM> may have a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM> oppositely disposed from the first end <NUM>. A base <NUM> may extend between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM>. The first end <NUM> may terminate in a hooked portion <NUM> that may bend away from the housing <NUM>. The second debris guard <NUM> comprises an upper substantially linear portion <NUM> and a lower curved portion <NUM>. The upper substantially linear portion <NUM> may further comprise two flanges <NUM> extending outwardly from the base <NUM> that may operably connect the second debris guard <NUM> to the support member <NUM>, such as the idler body <NUM>. The lower curved portion <NUM> may comprise upwardly extending side portions <NUM> that may be operably connected to the base <NUM>. The upwardly extending side portions <NUM> may have a length that generally increase along the curve to at partially cover or substantially cover the endless member <NUM>. The length of the upwardly extending side portions <NUM> may be greatest proximate the second end <NUM> of the second debris guard <NUM>. Further, the upper substantially linear portion <NUM> may be proximate the front edge wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. In another implementation, the upper substantially linear portion <NUM> may be disposed between the front edge wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the endless member <NUM>. Further, the hooked portion <NUM> may over hang a portion of the front edge wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM> to secure the second debris guard <NUM> in place. One upwardly extending sidewall of the lower curved portion <NUM> may be proximate the first side <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the other upwardly extending sidewall being proximate the second side <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

With continued reference to the FIGURES, the lower curved portion <NUM> is operably connected to the extension member <NUM>. The extension member <NUM> may comprise an extension portion <NUM> having an upper edge <NUM>. The base <NUM> of the extension portion <NUM> may be proximate the endless member <NUM>. The upper edge <NUM> of the extension portion <NUM> may be proximate the lower curved portion <NUM> of the first debris guard <NUM>.

The second debris guard <NUM> is configured to mitigate debris from contacting the endless member <NUM> positioned at least partially within the housing <NUM>. The upwardly extending side portions <NUM> are configured to assist the mitigation of debris entering the housing <NUM> and contacting or engaging with the endless member <NUM> and thus, the seed delivery system <NUM>.

The second debris guard <NUM> comprises the extension member <NUM> to further enhance placement of the commodity, such as seed, to an underlying surface.

The extension member has an extension portion <NUM> that is configured to channel the commodity, such as seed, as it exits the extension portion <NUM> to an associated furrow of an underlying surface.

The extension portion <NUM> is configured to extend substantially along a tangent line TL extending from the commodity lower (second) opening <NUM>. A drop down body <NUM> forming a drop down angle α by comprising the tangent line and a drop-down line DDL therebetween. The drop down angle α may reduce dynamic impact on upward accelerations acting on the commodity, such as seed, for better placement in the furrow. The drop down angle α ranges from about ten degrees to about thirty degrees. In another implementation, the drop down angle α may be about <NUM> degrees. In yet another implementation, the support member <NUM>, such as the idler body <NUM>, may comprise a ramp angle θ, defined between a substantially horizontal line intersecting a center point <NUM> of a pulley disposed in the idler body <NUM>. In one implementation, the ramp angle θ may be chosen with sound engineering judgment, and is contemplated to be about <NUM> degrees, <NUM> degrees, <NUM> degrees, <NUM> degrees, <NUM> degrees, <NUM> degrees, <NUM> degrees, <NUM> degrees or <NUM> degrees. In one implementation, as the ramp angle θ decreases, the drop down angle increases. In one implementation, as the ramp angle decreases from less than <NUM> degrees down to about <NUM> degrees, the drop down angle α increases from about greater than ten degrees to about thirty degrees. It is also contemplated that the drop down angle θ may be about zero degrees and coincident with an extension bottom <NUM> of the extension portion <NUM>.

With references to <FIG>, the extension portion <NUM> may comprise a cross section profile formed from the bottom <NUM> and the upwardly extending side walls <NUM>. The cross section profile being one of a parabola, one more undulating contours, a triangle, a w-shape, a square, a rectangle, a curve, or semi-circular.

With reference to <FIG>, an implementation of debris guard <NUM> is shown. The first debris guard <NUM> and the second debris guard <NUM> are of similar construction as previously described. As shown in <FIG>, the lower curved portion <NUM> of the first debris guard <NUM> may comprise a rib <NUM> about a portion of its upper perimeter for additional rigidity and strength. The second debris guard <NUM> may comprise an extension member <NUM>. The extension member <NUM> may comprise an extension portion <NUM>. An upper edge <NUM> may be proximate the lower curved portion <NUM> and second end <NUM> of the first debris guard <NUM> when installed. The extension member <NUM> may be shortened such that the second end <NUM> does not extend beyond the lower curved portion <NUM> of the first debris guard. In another implementation, the second end <NUM> of the second debris guard <NUM> may form a tangent line <NUM> with the lower curved portion <NUM>. In some implementations, the second end <NUM> of the second debris guard <NUM> may form an angle β with the second end <NUM> of the first debris guard <NUM>. Angle β may be an acute angle. In some implementations, angle β may be between about <NUM> degrees and about <NUM> degrees. In other implementations, it may be about <NUM> degrees. With a shortened extension member <NUM>, there is more space from the extension member <NUM> where the commodity exits and the underlying surface. This may be helpful with uneven terrain to prevent engagement of the extension member <NUM> and the debris guard <NUM>, <NUM> with the underlying surface.

<FIG> illustrates an implementation of the first debris guard <NUM>. A commodity protrusion body <NUM> may extend outwardly between the linear portion <NUM> and the curved portion <NUM>. The commodity protrusion body <NUM> may provide additional strength and rigidity to the first debris guard <NUM>. Further the commodity protrusion body <NUM> may further protect the endless member <NUM> from encountering large debris such as hulls from commodities or other objects and materials that may be carried around the endless member <NUM>. Additionally, the commodity protrusion body <NUM> may be configured to enable commodity hulls to be discharged without significantly interacting with the endless member <NUM>. The commodity protrusion body <NUM> may also prevent fertilizer over-spray from contacting the endless member <NUM>. The commodity protrusion body <NUM> may be a rectangular or square shaped body. However, any shape or configuration may be utilized to assist with exiting hulls from commodities.

The foregoing description and examples has been set forth merely to illustrate the disclosure and are not intended as being limiting. Each of the disclosed aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure may be considered individually or in combination with other aspects, embodiments, and variations of the disclosure. In addition, unless otherwise specified, none of the steps of the methods of the present disclosure are confined to any particular order of performance. Modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the disclosure may occur to persons skilled in the art and such modifications are within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, all references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Terms of orientation used herein, such as "top," "bottom," "horizontal," "vertical," "longitudinal," "lateral," and "end" are used in the context of the illustrated embodiment. However, the present disclosure should not be limited to the illustrated orientation. Indeed, other orientations are possible and are within the scope of this disclosure. Terms relating to circular shapes as used herein, such as diameter or radius, should be understood not to require perfect circular structures, but rather should be applied to any suitable structure with a cross-sectional region that can be measured from side-to-side. Terms relating to shapes generally, such as "circular" or "cylindrical" or "semi-circular" or "semi-cylindrical" or any related or similar terms, are not required to conform strictly to the mathematical definitions of circles or cylinders or other structures, but can encompass structures that are reasonably close approximations.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, "can," "might," "may," "e.g.," and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that some embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, blocks, and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Conjunctive language, such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y, and Z," unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z.

The terms "approximately," "about," and "substantially" as used herein represent an amount close to the stated amount that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, in some embodiments, as the context may dictate, the terms "approximately", "about", and "substantially" may refer to an amount that is within less than or equal to <NUM>% of the stated amount. The term "generally" as used herein represents a value, amount, or characteristic that predominantly includes or tends toward a particular value, amount, or characteristic. As an example, in certain embodiments, as the context may dictate, the term "generally parallel" can refer to something that departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to <NUM> degrees.

Unless otherwise explicitly stated, articles such as "a" or "an" should generally be interpreted to include one or more described items. Accordingly, phrases such as "a device configured to" are intended to include one or more recited devices. Such one or more recited devices can be collectively configured to carry out the stated recitations. For example, "a processor configured to carry out recitations A, B, and C" can include a first processor configured to carry out recitation A working in conjunction with a second processor configured to carry out recitations B and C.

Likewise, the terms "some," "certain," and the like are synonymous and are used in an open-ended fashion.

Overall, the language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims. The language of the claims is not to be limited to the non-exclusive embodiments and examples that are illustrated and described in this disclosure, or that are discussed during the prosecution of the application.

Although systems and methods for a commodity debris guard have been disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, this disclosure extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the embodiments and certain modifications and equivalents thereof. Various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of systems and methods for a commodity debris guard. The scope of this disclosure should not be limited by the particular disclosed implementations described herein.

Certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Although features may be described herein as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as any subcombination or variation of any subcombination.

While the methods and devices described herein may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but, to the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the various embodiments described and the appended claims. Further, the disclosure herein of any particular feature, aspect, method, property, characteristic, quality, attribute, element, or the like in connection with an embodiment can be used in all other embodiments set forth herein. Any methods disclosed herein need not be performed in the order recited. Depending on the embodiment, one or more acts, events, or functions of any of the algorithms, methods, or processes described herein can be performed in a different sequence, can be added, merged, or left out altogether (e.g., not all described acts or events are necessary for the practice of the algorithm). In some embodiments, acts or events can be performed concurrently, e.g., through multi-threaded processing, interrupt processing, or multiple processors or processor cores or on other parallel architectures, rather than sequentially. Further, no element, feature, block, or step, or group of elements, features, blocks, or steps, are necessary or indispensable to each embodiment. Additionally, all possible combinations, subcombinations, and rearrangements of systems, methods, features, elements, modules, blocks, and so forth are within the scope of this disclosure. The use of sequential, or time-ordered language, such as "then," "next," "after," "subsequently," and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to facilitate the flow of the text and is not intended to limit the sequence of operations performed. Thus, some embodiments may be performed using the sequence of operations described herein, while other embodiments may be performed following a different sequence of operations.

Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, and all operations need not be performed, to achieve the desirable results. Also, the separation of various system components in the implementations described herein should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products. Additionally, other implementations are within the scope of this disclosure.

Some embodiments have been described in connection with the accompanying figures. Certain figures are drawn and/or shown to scale, but such scale should not be limiting, since dimensions and proportions other than what are shown are contemplated and are within the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein. Distances, angles, etc. are merely illustrative and do not necessarily bear an exact relationship to actual dimensions and layout of the devices illustrated. Components can be added, removed, and/or rearranged. Further, the disclosure herein of any particular feature, aspect, method, property, characteristic, quality, attribute, element, or the like in connection with various embodiments can be used in all other embodiments set forth herein. Additionally, any methods described herein may be practiced using any device suitable for performing the recited steps.

The methods disclosed herein may include certain actions taken by a practitioner; however, the methods can also include any third-party instruction of those actions, either expressly or by implication. For example, actions such as "positioning an electrode" include "instructing positioning of an electrode.

The ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all overlap, subranges, and combinations thereof. Language such as "up to," "at least," "greater than," "less than," "between," and the like includes the number recited. Numbers preceded by a term such as "about" or "approximately" include the recited numbers and should be interpreted based on the circumstances (e.g., as accurate as reasonably possible under the circumstances, for example ±<NUM>%, ±<NUM>%, ±<NUM>%, etc.). For example, "about <NUM> V" includes "<NUM> V. " Phrases preceded by a term such as "substantially" include the recited phrase and should be interpreted based on the circumstances (e.g., as much as reasonably possible under the circumstances). For example, "substantially perpendicular" includes "perpendicular. " Unless stated otherwise, all measurements are at standard conditions including temperature and pressure.

Claim 1:
A commodity delivery apparatus (<NUM>) for transferring a commodity to a furrow, comprising a support member (<NUM>) with a housing (<NUM>) and an endless member (<NUM>) at least partially disposed within the housing (<NUM>) and configured to receive the commodity through a first opening of the housing (<NUM>) and to dispose the commodity in the furrow through a second opening (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>), the commodity delivery apparatus (<NUM>) comprising a commodity debris guard (<NUM>) with:
a first debris guard (<NUM>) operably connected to the support member (<NUM>), the first debris guard (<NUM>) comprising a base (<NUM>) and upwardly extending side portions (<NUM>), the first debris guard (<NUM>) configured to mitigate debris from contacting an endless member (<NUM>) positioned at least partially within the housing (<NUM>); and
a second debris guard (<NUM>) operably connected to the support member (<NUM>) and disposed forward and below the first debris guard (<NUM>), the second debris guard (<NUM>) configured to mitigate debris from contacting the endless member (<NUM>), the second debris guard (<NUM>) comprising a base (<NUM>) and upwardly extending side portions (<NUM>) extending from the base (<NUM>);
wherein the base comprises an upper substantially linear portion (<NUM>) and a lower curved portion (<NUM>);
wherein the second debris guard (<NUM>) further comprises an extension member (<NUM>), and the extension member having an extension portion (<NUM>) that is configured to channel the commodity as it exits the extension portion (<NUM>) to the associated furrow of an underlying surface;wherein the lower curved portion (<NUM>) is operably connected to the extension member (<NUM>);
wherein the extension portion (<NUM>) is configured to extend substantially along a tangent line (TL) extending from the commodity lower second opening (<NUM>);
wherein the second debris guard (<NUM>) further comprises a drop-down body (<NUM>) forming a drop-down angle α by comprising the tangent line and a drop-down line therebetween;
characterized in that
the dropdown angle α being from about ten degrees to about thirty degrees.