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).
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Publication number: 20100116185Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2010Publication date: May 13, 2010Inventors: Miles R. Keaton, Michael E. Friestad, Nathan A. Mariman, David J. Rylander
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Patent number: 7661377Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 23, 2007Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Miles R. Keaton, Michael E. Friestad, Nathan A. Mariman, David J. Rylander
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Publication number: 20090025620Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2007Publication date: January 29, 2009Inventors: Miles R. Keaton, Michael E. Friestad, Nathan A. Mariman, David J. Rylander
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Patent number: 7451713Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 13, 2007Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Nathan A. Mariman, Miles R. Keaton, Paul R. Riewerts, Michael E. Friestad
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Publication number: 20080250993Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2007Publication date: October 16, 2008Inventors: Nathan A. Mariman, Miles R. Keaton, Paul R. Riewerts, Michael E. Friestad
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Patent number: 7343868Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 10, 2003Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Lyle E. Stephens, Miles R. Keaton, Robert J. Roman, Jose M. Valdez
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Patent number: 6848377Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 10, 2003Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: David J. Rylander, Miles R. Keaton, William H. Thompson
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Publication number: 20040134399Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Inventors: Lyle E. Stephens, Miles R. Keaton, Robert J. Roman, Jose M. Valdez
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Publication number: 20040134398Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Inventors: David J. Rylander, Miles R. Keaton, William H. Thompson
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Patent number: 6752095Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 10, 2003Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: David J. Rylander, Daniel B. Thiemke, Todd E. Vandersnick, Jose M. Valdez, Miles R. Keaton, Garn Penfold
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Patent number: 6644225Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 17, 2002Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Miles R. Keaton
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Publication number: 20030131769Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Inventor: Miles R. Keaton