Abstract: A method of sowing seed (including fertilized pellets, particles, crystals and the like) including accelerating the seed to a speed in the supersonic range and directing the so moving seed to impinge on penetrable sowing ground so that the seed penetrates the ground to approximately the desired depth. The operation is carried out in a relatively low pressure environment and a feature of the operation is that the seed can penetrate the ground without substantial damage to the seed. Appropriate apparatus is provide to accelerate the seed to the supersonic speed range in a low pressure environment, and in one example this includes a rotor wheel receiving seed appropriately from a supply source, a sufficient rotary speed being imparted to the wheel for the necessary acceleration of the seed which is discharged via an outlet in the wheel.

Abstract: A straight row seed planter wherein a support frame mounts a hopper onto a support beam, with an axle rotatably mounted within the support frame parallel to the support beam, wherein the support beam includes at least one pair of feed cones extending therefrom, with each feed cone having a closure door plate, and each closure door plate arranged for sequential operation by a respective cam member that effects sequential opening of each respective door plate to effect sequential feeding from the respective feed cones. The hopper is arranged for selective securement to the support frame to accommodate various quantities and sizing of seed to be planted.

Abstract: The invention is a seed metering device for metered discharging of agricultural seeds and the like. The seed metering device is designed to collect seed in a singular or group fashion and deposit the same at predetermined and accurate intervals in a seed trench. The device includes a seed disk which contains a plurality of seed containment pockets. These pockets can be depressurized by imparting a partial vacuum. The seed disk sits between a manifold and a housing which define a seed collection area and a seed release area. Seed enters the seed collection area through a seed intake opening in the upper portion of the housing. This portion opens to a seed downfall region that widens into the seed collection area. As the disk rotates between the seed collection area and the seed release area, the seed pockets contained on the seed disk are pressurized thereby acquiring a seed and carrying or conveying the seed to the seed release point.

Abstract: A seed planting device has a planting wheel rotatable about an axis 74 to roll over a land 38. Hollow tines 50 mounted at angular spacings on the wheel 22 extend outwardly. A seed cell 66 in each tine has an inlet 118 for receiving a seed and an outlet 69 towards an outer end. A seed dispensing mechanism 56 dispenses seeds individually to the seed cells via ducts 60. A release member 70 in each seed cell is movable between a retain condition for retaining a seed and a release condition for releasing the seed.

Abstract: A granular materials applicator is disclosed in which controlled metering rolls rotating at a preselected angular velocity provides volumetric displacement of the granular material irrespective of varying operating conditions.

Abstract: A mobile seed planter includes a plurality of planting assemblies with each of the assemblies being selectively activatable for planting seeds and including structure defining a seed cavity for receiving seeds to be planted. A discharging structure in communication with the seed cavities receives seeds therefrom for discharging seeds onto the ground. A control assembly, operably coupling the planting assemblies, includes structure for selectively activating one of the planting assemblies and for preventing activation of the other of the planting assemblies thereby limiting the discharging of seeds onto the ground to only one of the planting assemblies at a time.

Abstract: An implement for seeding "fluffy" grass seed comprising a seed box defining a plurality of seed compartments having a seed dispensing slot in a lower portion thereof. Seed delivery tubes are connected to the seed box so that each of the seed delivery tubes encompasses one of the seed dispensing slots. A picker wheel assembly is rotatably supported on the seed box such that a picker wheel is disposed in each of the seed dispensing slots and a directional flow agitator assembly is rotatably mounted in each of the seed compartments for agitating and directing seed toward the seed dispensing slots and into contact with the picker wheels. A packer assembly, designed to substantially "float" over the surface of the ground, is rotatably connected to the frame assembly so as to support the frame assembly while at the same time firming soil over and around seed dispensed from the seed compartments through the seed delivery tubes.

Abstract: An agricultural implement such as a grain drill or similar seeding implement includes a plurality of transversely spaced seed meters having fluted feed wheels fixed to and transversely movable with a drive shaft which is controlled by an actuator to vary seeding rate in response to an indication provided by a sensor or sensors associated with one or more of the meters. An electronic controller includes a desired seeding rate input and provides an indication of the actual seeding rate. In one embodiment of the invention, an error signal indicative of the difference between the actual and desired seeding rates is utilized in a closed-loop system to move the shaft to automatically maintain the desired seeding rate. In a wider implement with more than one shaft, a switching circuit is utilized to permit a single control circuit to provide individual section seeding rates and to automatically operate the actuator associated with the given drive shaft in accordance with the error signal.

Abstract: A potato planter (10) having a horizontally disposed auger housing (23) divided longitudinally into two halves by separator plate (37), said housing being open at the top at the forward end for receiving seed potatoes from seed hopper (11) and open at the bottom at the rearmost end for dropping seed potatoes into a planting furrow. A pair of primary single blade augers (20) disposed for axial rotation within said housing along and adjacent to each side of separator place (37). A pair of secondary filler blade augers (21), each in interfitting parallel axial relationship with a primary auger so as to interfit the filler blade of a secondary auger between the reach of the blade of each primary auger so as to form a plurality of traveling compartments between the unfilled reaches of the blade of the primary augers and the sides of the separator plate for transporting seed potatoes from the forward end of the auger housing to the rearmost opening.

Abstract: A planter for placement of plants in spaced parallel rows in the soil has a plant dispenser fed manually or automatically from a plant supply and delivering to a furrow-opening coulter assembly and press wheels. The plant dispenser comprises a drum having an internal impeller defining plant-receiving chutes through which the plants pass, and thence downwards and outwards through an opening in the drum. The coulter assembly has reciprocated coulter side plates which receive and support each plant in a receiving zone between them, and by forward movement relative to the plant and relative to a fixed placement member located in front of the plant, allow soil to flow back to cover the plant's root ball. The press wheels are mounted with a variable caster angle to vary their soil-gathering affect. A hitch has twin parallel toolbars whereby the row units are freely laterally position-adjustable even across the tractor hitch.

Abstract: A hopper for dispensing seed, grain and the like comprises a housing having a lower portion and at least one dispensing opening in the lower portion; a rotatable shaft located within the housing; a drive shaft transferring rotational energy to the shaft from a low horsepower, low rpm, electric motor; a brush having a plurality of tufts of flexible bristles held in an annular member mounted on the shaft above each dispensing opening for feeding seed, grain and the like to the dispensing opening during rotation of the shaft; a marked metering plate having a metering hole therethrough and extending into a slot formed in a first side portion of the housing; and a mechanism for selectively stopping rotation of the shaft whereby when rotation of the shaft is stopped, seeds, grain and the like are blocked from access to the dispensing opening, the mechanism including a cam adjustably mounted on the shaft, a cam follower for engaging the cam and a microswitch connected to the cam follower and deactivating the electri