Patents by Inventor Miles R. Keaton

Miles R. Keaton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20100116185
    Abstract: A seed meter for use in an agricultural seeding machine includes a housing having an inner chamber and one or more deflectors within the inner chamber, and a seed disc rotatably carried by the housing. The seed disc includes at least a portion thereof formed from a flexible material which is deflectable by the one or more deflectors during rotation within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Miles R. Keaton, Michael E. Friestad, Nathan A. Mariman, David J. Rylander
  • Patent number: 7661377
    Abstract: A seed meter for use in an agricultural seeding machine includes a housing having an inner chamber and one or more deflectors within the inner chamber, and a seed disc rotatably carried by the housing. The seed disc includes at least a portion thereof formed from a flexible material which is deflectable by the one or more deflectors during rotation within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Miles R. Keaton, Michael E. Friestad, Nathan A. Mariman, David J. Rylander
  • Publication number: 20090025620
    Abstract: A seed meter for use in an agricultural seeding machine includes a housing having an inner chamber and one or more deflectors within the inner chamber, and a seed disc rotatably carried by the housing. The seed disc includes at least a portion thereof formed from a flexible material which is deflectable by the one or more deflectors during rotation within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Miles R. Keaton, Michael E. Friestad, Nathan A. Mariman, David J. Rylander
  • Patent number: 7451713
    Abstract: A seed metering system having a housing and a disk rotatably positioned within the housing and having a plurality of holes extending from a first face to a second face thereof, the holes being substantially uniformly placed from one another around the circumference of the disk and each sized to receive a single seed. A pressure differential is maintained between the first and second face of the disk within the housing, the pressure on the first face being higher than the pressure on the second face to urge seeds against the first face of the disk. A plurality of seeds are distributed against the first face of the disk, whereby the pressure differential substantially urges a single seed into a single hole on the disk. A device is provided for releasing the single seeds from the holes on the disk at substantially the same location for sequential distribution of seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Nathan A. Mariman, Miles R. Keaton, Paul R. Riewerts, Michael E. Friestad
  • Publication number: 20080250993
    Abstract: A seed metering system having a housing and a disk rotatably positioned within the housing and having a plurality of holes extending from a first face to a second face thereof, the holes being substantially uniformly placed from one another around the circumference of the disk and each sized to receive a single seed. A pressure differential is maintained between the first and second face of the disk within the housing, the pressure on the first face being higher than the pressure on the second face to urge seeds against the first face of the disk. A plurality of seeds are distributed against the first face of the disk, whereby the pressure differential substantially urges a single seed into a single hole on the disk. A device is provided for releasing the single seeds from the holes on the disk at substantially the same location for sequential distribution of seeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Nathan A. Mariman, Miles R. Keaton, Paul R. Riewerts, Michael E. Friestad
  • Patent number: 7343868
    Abstract: A seeding machine includes at least one seed metering system and at least one seed placement system. Each seed placement system is in communication with a corresponding seed metering system. Each seed placement system includes a housing having a seed slide, and a wheel at least partly disposed within the housing. The wheel has a circumferential periphery with a plurality of contiguous disc joint surfaces. The periphery is positioned adjacent to at least part of the seed slide. The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a method of placing seeds with a seeding machine in a trench formed in soil. Seeds are received at a predetermined rate at a seed placement system. The seed placement system includes a seed slide, and a wheel having a conferential periphery position closely adjacent to at least part of the seed slide. The seeds are engaged at the predetermined rate against the wheel periphery. The seeds are carried past a closely adjacent area of the seed slide using the wheel periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Lyle E. Stephens, Miles R. Keaton, Robert J. Roman, Jose M. Valdez
  • Patent number: 6848377
    Abstract: An assembly for opening and closing a furrow in soil includes a furrow opener with a pair of discs positioned at an angle relative to each other. The discs each have an inner side facing toward each other and an outer side facing away from each other. Each disc also has a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to a travel direction. A furrow closer includes a pair of wheels, each having an inner side facing toward each other and positioned adjacent to a corresponding disc outer side. Each wheel also has a leading edge positioned between a corresponding disc leading edge and disc trailing edge, and a trailing edge positioned rearward of a corresponding disc trailing edge relative to the travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: David J. Rylander, Miles R. Keaton, William H. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20040134399
    Abstract: A seeding machine includes at least one seed metering system and at least one seed placement system. Each seed placement system is in communication with a corresponding seed metering system. Each seed placement system includes a housing having a seed slide, and a wheel at least partly disposed within the housing. The wheel has a circumferential periphery with a plurality of contiguous disc joint surfaces. The periphery is positioned adjacent to at least part of the seed slide. The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a method of placing seeds with a seeding machine in a trench formed in soil. Seeds are received at a predetermined rate at a seed placement system. The seed placement system includes a seed slide, and a wheel having a conferential periphery position closely adjacent to at least part of the seed slide. The seeds are engaged at the predetermined rate against the wheel periphery. The seeds are carried past a closely adjacent area of the seed slide using the wheel periphery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Lyle E. Stephens, Miles R. Keaton, Robert J. Roman, Jose M. Valdez
  • Publication number: 20040134398
    Abstract: An assembly for opening and closing a furrow in soil includes a furrow opener with a pair of discs positioned at an angle relative to each other. The discs each have an inner side facing toward each other and an outer side facing away from each other. Each disc also has a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to a travel direction. A furrow closer includes a pair of wheels, each having an inner side facing toward each other and positioned adjacent to a corresponding disc outer side. Each wheel also has a leading edge positioned between a corresponding disc leading edge and disc trailing edge, and a trailing edge positioned rearward of a corresponding disc trailing edge relative to the travel direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: David J. Rylander, Miles R. Keaton, William H. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6752095
    Abstract: A seeding machine includes at least one seed metering system and at least one seed placement system. Each seed metering system includes a seed disc having a plurality of spaced apart seed cells and a circumferential edge. An edge drive engages the circumferential edge for rotatably driving the seed disc. Each seed placement system is in communication with a corresponding seed metering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: David J. Rylander, Daniel B. Thiemke, Todd E. Vandersnick, Jose M. Valdez, Miles R. Keaton, Garn Penfold
  • Patent number: 6644225
    Abstract: A pressure control system is configured to precisely tune positive air pressure or vacuum to pneumatic seed meters that are located along a pneumatic metering manifold. The system includes pressure control valves pneumatically located at plural seed meters that adjust the air pressure or vacuum at the seed meters. The system can utilize feedback pressure signals from pressure sensors at each meter to equalize positive air pressure or vacuum at the seed meters to ensure consistent row-to-row seed populations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Miles R. Keaton
  • Publication number: 20030131769
    Abstract: A pressure control system is configured to precisely tune positive air pressure or vacuum to pneumatic seed meters that are located along a pneumatic metering manifold. The system includes pressure control valves pneumatically located at plural seed meters that adjust the air pressure or vacuum at the seed meters. The system can utilize feedback pressure signals from pressure sensors at each meter to equalize positive air pressure or vacuum at the seed meters to ensure consistent row-to-row seed populations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Miles R. Keaton