Patents by Inventor Dale E. Wilkins

Dale E. Wilkins 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).

  • Patent number: 6345671
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ground-driven residue management wheel attachment for seeding equipment comprising of a fingered wheel, inner ring, and spring-loaded arm. The fingered wheel and inner ring pin crop residue to the ground surface and prevent residue from lodging on the farrow-opening device of the seeding unit. The fingered wheel and inner ring also act as a shield and prevent soil disturbed by the furrow-opening device from being thrown out of the seed furrow. The adjustable spring-loaded arm is able to pivot about the vertical and horizontal axes and provides downpressure to keep the fingered wheel in contact with the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Mark C. Siemens, Robert F. Correa, Dale E. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 4765263
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described which allow for placement of fertilizer at an optimum separation distance below seed at the time of seeding with a minimum of soil disturbance so that the creation of high ridges adjacent to the seed row is avoided. The apparatus includes a narrow first furrow opener for opening a narrow furrow for fertilizer; a wider second furrow opener attached to the first furrow opener for opening a seed furrow above the first furrow simultaneously in time and at a slightly differential position; a feed tube attached to the trailing edge of the first furrow opener for feeding fertilizer into the fertilizer furrow as it is opened, and a seed deflector for deflecting seeds rearward so that they do not fall into the seed furrow before the fertilizer furrow is filled with soil. The device can be used with existing implement shanks such as a grain drill opener shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Dale E. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 4300462
    Abstract: Seeds are punch planted by an apparatus comprising a disk equipped with a plurality of punches rotatably mounted on a frame. The punch disk is eccentrically driven to insure that the punches are perpendicular to the soil surface at all times. A seed disk is rotatably mounted on the frame and communicates with a seed hopper to singulate seeds to the punches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Dale E. Wilkins, William J. Conley