Patents by Inventor Brett Buehler

Brett Buehler 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: 20240032455
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various adjustable seed meter embodiments having a first seed disk having first openings defined therein and a second seed disk having second openings defined therein adjacent to the first openings such that the first and second openings are alignable to form adjustable seed cells. Various embodiments have a plate adjustment drive system to rotate the first and second seed disks in relation to each other. Other embodiments relate to methods of automatically adjusting a seed meter during operation of the overall planting system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Brett Buehler, Alex Hartogh, Scott Eichhorn
  • Publication number: 20230388458
    Abstract: A planting system comprising a camera disposed at a distal end of a seed tube at or below ground level. The system may also include a processor in communication with the camera configured to processes images from the camera, and be configured to conduct image analysis to detect planting conditions including one or more of collapsed trench sidewalls, seed placement, crop residue within the trench, clods within the trench, a collapsed trench, “W” trench, trench size, seed depth, closing wheel operations, soil moisture, and seed bounce. The system may also include a command module in communication with the processor configured to automatically adjust one or more of planter row cleaners, supplemental row unit down force, supplemental closing wheel down force, closing wheel configuration, deployment of seed firmers, timing of application of liquid treatment, and seed meter ejection in response to detected planting conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Scott Eichhorn, Brett Buehler, Alan F. Barry
  • Patent number: 11785881
    Abstract: Adjustable seed meters having a first seed disk having first openings defined therein and a second seed disk having second openings defined therein adjacent to the first openings such that the first and second openings are alignable to form adjustable seed cells. Various embodiments have a plate adjustment drive system to rotate the first and second seed disks in relation to each other. Other embodiments relate to methods of automatically adjusting a seed meter during operation of the overall planting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ag Leader Technology
    Inventors: Brett Buehler, Alex Hartogh, Scott Eichhorn
  • Publication number: 20230105245
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of dual seed meters having a metering housing having first and second seed disks with a plurality of openings arranged along a curved path of each disk, wherein the disks overlap to form a convergence region such that seed traveling along the curved paths is delivered to a single point. Certain implementations also have a vacuum chamber defined between a first wall of the metering housing and the first and second seed disks and a seed chamber defined between a second wall of the metering housing and the first and second seed disks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventor: Brett Buehler
  • Patent number: 11523554
    Abstract: A dual seed meter having a metering housing having first and second seed disks with a plurality of openings arranged along a curved path of each disk, wherein the disks overlap to form a convergence region such that seed traveling along the curved paths is delivered to a single point. Certain implementations also have a vacuum chamber defined between a first wall of the metering housing and the first and second seed disks and a seed chamber defined between a second wall of the metering housing and the first and second seed disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ag Leader Technology
    Inventor: Brett Buehler
  • Publication number: 20220174855
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various devices, systems, and methods for protecting open seed trenches form ingress of foreign material, such as plant residue. The preventing foreign material from entering the open seed trench during planting increases crop yield by minimizing delayed germination and late plant emergence. Various implementations of adjustable row cleaners may be used to prevent ingress of foreign material. Also, various shields may be disposed on the row units of a planter to prevent ingress of foreign material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Roger Zielke, Tony Woodcock, Scott Eichhorn, Brett Buehler, Bob Heston, Joe Holoubek, Jonathan Brand
  • Publication number: 20220142039
    Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for on-the-go monitoring and controlled feedback in a supplemental downforce application. Certain implementations provide real-time monitoring of furrow depth via contact and non-contact approaches, some of which are combined with gauge wheel feedback to calibrate and otherwise control the application of supplemental downforce to the row unit. A combination of sensor types are employed in collecting furrow depth measurements, which can be used to adjust the supplemental downforce through a control system module. A gauge wheel load sensor may be used to modify the application of supplemental downforce.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Scott Eichhorn, Tony Woodcock, Brett Buehler, Steven Brown, Roger Zielke, Bob Heston
  • Publication number: 20210243941
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for monitoring rocks in a field. The system includes at least one row unit having an opening disk, a gauge wheel, and a gauge wheel load sensor. The system further includes a processor and a storage media. In various implementations, the system evaluates gauge wheel load sensor data, vertical acceleration data, and/or down force bore pressure data to detect when a row unit strikes a rock. In some implementations, the system can detect the size of the rock, the location of the rock within the soil, and the severity of a rock strike.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventor: Brett Buehler
  • Publication number: 20210051841
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various adjustable seed meter embodiments having a first seed disk having first openings defined therein and a second seed disk having second openings defined therein adjacent to the first openings such that the first and second openings are alignable to form adjustable seed cells. Various embodiments have a plate adjustment drive system to rotate the first and second seed disks in relation to each other. Other embodiments relate to methods of automatically adjusting a seed meter during operation of the overall planting system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Brett Buehler, Alex Hartogh, Scott Eichhorn
  • Publication number: 20200236842
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of dual seed meters having a metering housing having first and second seed disks with a plurality of openings arranged along a curved path of each disk, wherein the disks overlap to form a convergence region such that seed traveling along the curved paths is delivered to a single point. Certain implementations also have a vacuum chamber defined between a first wall of the metering housing and the first and second seed disks and a seed chamber defined between a second wall of the metering housing and the first and second seed disks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventor: Brett Buehler
  • Publication number: 20200029486
    Abstract: The disclosed devices, systems and methods relate to an adaptive closing system for seed trench closing. The adaptive closing system including at least one row unit and a closing unit. The closing unit including at least one closing disc and an actuator. The adaptive closing system constructed and arranged to receive closing force inputs and generate closing force outputs to dynamically adjust the amount of downforce applied to the closing discs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Brett Buehler, Steve Bruening
  • Publication number: 20190297769
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various devices, systems, and methods for protecting open seed trenches form ingress of foreign material, such as plant residue. The preventing foreign material from entering the open seed trench during planting increases crop yield by minimizing delayed germination and late plant emergence. Various implementations of adjustable row cleaners may be used to prevent ingress of foreign material. Also, various shields may be disposed on the row units of a planter to prevent ingress of foreign material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Roger Zielke, Tony Woodcock, Scott Eichhorn, Brett Buehler, Bob Heston, Joe Holoubek, Jonathan Brand
  • Publication number: 20190254223
    Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for on-the-go monitoring and controlled feedback in a supplemental downforce application. Certain implementations provide real-time monitoring of furrow depth via contact and non-contact approaches, some of which are combined with gauge wheel feedback to calibrate and otherwise control the application of supplemental downforce to the row unit. A combination of sensor types are employed in collecting furrow depth measurements, which can be used to adjust the supplemental downforce through a control system module. A gauge wheel load sensor may be used to modify the application of supplemental downforce.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Scott Eichhorn, Tony Woodcock, Brett Buehler, Steven Brown, Roger Zielke, Bob Heston