Patents by Inventor Don L. Dunlap

Don L. Dunlap 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: 7798080
    Abstract: An adjustable singulating brush assembly for a seed meter and method to improve seed singulation of a seed meter. The assembly includes a carrier and a brush selectively adjustably moveable with respect to the carrier. The method to improve seed singulation of a seed meter includes disposing a selectively adjustable moveable brush along a path of travel of the seed selection mechanism of the seed meter between the meter's seed reservoir and the seed discharge opening and selectively moving the adjustably moveable brush with respect to the path of travel of the seed selection mechanism such that the selected seeds meet the preselected brush position to affect removal of extra seeds from the seed selection mechanism so singular seeds are sequentially discharged through the seed discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg A. Sauder, Derek A. Sauder, Don L. Dunlap
  • Patent number: 7549383
    Abstract: A system and method to reduce vertical acceleration experienced by a seed meter of a planter row unit during planting operations, the planter row unit having a row unit frame including a hopper support from which the seed meter is operably supported. The system includes a support system operably vertically supporting the hopper support vertically movably independent of the row unit frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg A. Sauder, Derek A. Sauder, Don L. Dunlap, Chad E. Plattner, Justin Koch
  • Patent number: 7162963
    Abstract: An adjustable singulating brush assembly for a seed meter and method to improve seed singulation of a seed meter. The assembly includes a carrier and a brush selectively adjustably moveable with respect to the carrier. The method to improve seed singulation of a seed meter includes disposing a selectively adjustable moveable brush along a path of travel of the seed selection mechanism of the seed meter between the meter's seed reservoir and said seed discharge opening and selectively moving the adjustably moveable brush with respect to the path of travel of the seed selection mechanism such that the selected seeds meet the preselected brush position to affect removal of extra seeds from the seed selection mechanism so singular seeds are sequentially discharged through said seed discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg A. Sauder, Derek A. Sauder, Don L. Dunlap
  • Patent number: 7086269
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of testing seed singulation of a seed meter. The apparatus includes a frame which supports the seed meter to be tested above a track within which is disposed a continuous flighted belt. A drive system is provided to drive the flighted belt and the seed meter at a preselected speed and seed discharge rate, respectively. In operation, seeds supplied to the seed meter are dispensed by the seed meter in its normal mode of operation onto the moving flighted belt. A sensor disposed along the path of travel of the belt detects the seeds within each passing cell. A computer records and registers data relevant to the singulation accuracy and efficiency of the seed meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg A. Sauder, Chad E. Plattner, Derek A. Sauder, Don L. Dunlap
  • Patent number: 6748885
    Abstract: An agricultural seed planter and seed meter therefore, wherein the seed meter includes a rotary vacuum drum disposed within a stationary housing to entrain individual seeds on an annular circumferential periphery of the drum. As the entrained seeds rotate with the drum the seeds are singulated before being released from said vacuum drum. The seed metering and dispensing device is adapted to be mounted below the seed hopper to discharge the seeds into a seed tube as is conventional, or alternatively the seed metering and dispensing device is preferably adapted for mounting just above the soil surface and between the furrow opening assembly and furrow closing wheel assembly of a conventional agricultural planter such that the seeds are deposited directly into the seed furrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg A. Sauder, Kenneth R. Dill, Don L. Dunlap, Kenneth P. Sauder, Derek A. Sauder, Jeremy E. Zobrist
  • Patent number: 6729249
    Abstract: An improved seed belt housing to reduce seed skip and method for same. The seed belt housing having a modified back panel with an area of impact absorbing material disposed at least in the area where the seed normally hits the back panel of the seed belt housing after being discharged by the seed meter. The impact absorbing material having the properties to dampen, absorb, or reduce the amount of bounce or ricochet otherwise experienced by the seed after hitting the back panel of the seed belt housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg A. Sauder, Kenneth R. Dill, Don L. Dunlap, Derek A. Sauder
  • Patent number: 6681706
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlled delivery of seeds between the seed meter of an agricultural planter to an open seed furrow. Seeds are received individually and in a sequence from a seed meter into a housing. The seeds are conveyed in sequence through the housing by a conveyor at a controlled speed to a location proximate the open furrow, then gently released into the open furrow as the agricultural planter moves forward. The controlled delivery of the seed to the furrow ensures more accurate seed placement within the furrow at the desired seed spacing, thereby improving crop yield potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg A. Sauder, Kenneth R. Dill, Don L. Dunlap
  • Publication number: 20030167986
    Abstract: An improved seed belt housing to reduce seed skip and method for same. The seed belt housing having a modified back panel with an area of impact absorbing material disposed at least in the area where the seed normally hits the back panel of the seed belt housing after being discharged by the seed meter. The impact absorbing material having the properties to dampen, absorb, or reduce the amount of bounce or ricochet otherwise experienced by the seed after hitting the back panel of the seed belt housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Gregg A. Sauder, Kenneth R. Dill, Don L. Dunlap, Derek A. Sauder
  • Publication number: 20030159631
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlled delivery of seeds between the seed meter of an agricultural planter to an open seed furrow. Seeds are received individually and in a sequence from a seed meter into a housing. The seeds are conveyed in sequence through the housing by a conveyor at a controlled speed to a location proximate the open furrow, then gently released into the open furrow as the agricultural planter moves forward. The controlled delivery of the seed to the furrow ensures more accurate seed placement within the furrow at the desired seed spacing, thereby improving crop yield potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Precision Planting, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg A. Sauder , Kenneth R. Dill , Don L. Dunlap
  • Publication number: 20030116068
    Abstract: An agricultural seed planter and seed meter therefore, wherein the seed meter includes a rotary vacuum drum disposed within a stationary housing to entrain individual seeds on an annular circumferential periphery of the drum. As the entrained seeds rotate with the drum the seeds are singulated before being released from said vacuum drum. The seed metering and dispensing device is adapted to be mounted below the seed hopper to discharge the seeds into a seed tube as is conventional, or alternatively the seed metering and dispensing device is preferably adapted for mounting just above the soil surface and between the furrow opening assembly and furrow closing wheel assembly of a conventional agricultural planter such that the seeds are deposited directly into the seed furrow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Precision Planting, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg A. Sauder , Kenneth R. Dill , Don L. Dunlap , Kenneth P. Sauder , Derek A. Sauder , Jeremy E. Zobrist
  • Patent number: 6516733
    Abstract: An agricultural seed planter and seed meter therefore, wherein the seed meter includes a rotary vacuum drum disposed within a stationary housing to entrain individual seeds on an annular circumferential periphery of the drum. As the entrained seeds rotate with the drum the seeds are singulated before being released from said vacuum drum. The seed metering and dispensing device is adapted to be mounted below the seed hopper to discharge the seeds into a seed tube as is conventional, or alternatively the seed metering and dispensing device is preferably adapted for mounting just above the soil surface and between the furrow opening assembly and furrow closing wheel assembly of a conventional agricultural planter such that the seeds are deposited directly into the seed furrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg A. Sauder, Kenneth R. Dill, Don L. Dunlap, Kenneth P. Sauder, Derek A. Sauder, Jeremy E. Zobrist