Planting – Miscellaneous
Patent
1994-08-29
1996-06-11
Melius, Terry L.
Planting
Miscellaneous
111177, 111900, 221277, 221278, 222630, A01C 708
Patent
active
055245595
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus or sowing seed and the like such as fertiliser pellets, particles, crystals, etc. (all referred to as seed for convenience).
U.K. Patent 1136771 describes a method of sowing seed comprising projecting seed into the ground at at least supersonic speed; this enables the seed to be sown quickly and conveniently, and the method dispenses with the need to plough or turn the soil before sowing, which is advantageous. The apparatus described in No. 1136771 for achieving this method comprises a seed discharging chamber including a discharge nozzle, the chamber receiving seed from a suitable seed storage container and a high pressure air source, e.g., compressor, is connected to the discharge chamber and selectively operable to cause expulsion of seed from the chamber via the nozzle. For controlled discharge of seed, the nozzle walls can be of flexible material and the throat of the nozzle of a size slightly smaller than a single seed, the high pressure air forcing seed individually through the flexible nozzle throat. To enable effective operation, the above apparatus has used air at a pressure of 180 p.s.i. This is disadvantageous due to the relatively high cost of providing a compressor to produce such high pressure, and it is also a serious drawback to deliver the seed prior no sowing into such a high pressure environment. It is the principal object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of sowing seed comprising accelerating the seed to impinge on penetrable ground at a speed in the supersonic range such that the seed penetrates the ground to a depth without substantial seed damage, wherein the seed is passed in a relatively low pressure environment of pressure no greater than 40 p.s.i. (275.9 Kn/m.sup.2) gauge in an inlet passage, to means for accelerating the seed to a speed in the supersonic range in said low pressure environment.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for sowing seed by accelerating seed in a relatively low pressure environment no greater than 40 p.s.i (275.9 Kn/m.sup.2) gauge to impinge on penetrable ground so that the seed penetrates the ground to a depth, said apparatus comprising a seed holding device including means to accelerate seed to a supersonic speed range and outlet means from the seed holding means for the discharge of seed onto the ground for penetration of the seed into the ground, and supply means to supply seed to said seed holding device wherein said seed holding device accelerates the seed by centrifugal force effect.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic side elevation of one apparatus for carrying out the present invention while
FIGS. 2 and 3 show side and end views respectively of apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 shows the apparatus of FIGS. 2/3 but with a modification, and
FIG. 5 shows schematically a further embodiment for carrying out the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows seed sowing apparatus for carrying out the present invention. The seed sowing apparatus 1 include ducting 2 comprising an inlet section 3, flexible bellows section 4, and a nozzle discharge section 5 connected to the bellows section 4, the various sections being joined by bolting together flanged portions 6.
The nozzle section 5 is oscillable in a horizontal/transverse direction by means of a swinging lever 15 carried in ball joint 16 for effective spreading of seed over an area when the apparatus 1 is moved at an appropriate speed in a longitudinal direction.
A low pressure environment in the order of 8 p.s.i. (gauge) is maintained in the ducting 2 by means of an air blower 7 which is in the form of a positive displacement machine of the Roots type having meshing lobes 9, 10 located in housing 11, but other forms of blower are possible such as,
REFERENCES:
patent: 3804036 (1974-04-01), Seifert, Jr.
patent: 3944137 (1976-03-01), Cutchins et al.
patent: 4257340 (1981-03-01), Mickelsson et al.
patent: 4300461 (1981-11-01), Hodge et al.
patent: 4614283 (1986-09-01), Becker
patent: 4899672 (1990-02-01), Paul
patent: 5241917 (1993-09-01), Ferrand
DATABASE WPIL, Week 8908, Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB; AN 89-059621 & SU-A-1-416209 (MOLD IRRIG VEGETABL).
Maxwell Davidson Limited
Melius Terry L.
Novosad Christopher J.
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