Electronic seed rate system for a grain drill
US5025951A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jun 25, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S111/904
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.