Planting – Miscellaneous
Patent
1997-03-06
1998-06-16
Melius, Terry Lee
Planting
Miscellaneous
111130, A01C 720
Patent
active
057654921
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to carrying out the sowing of seeds on a desired soil. The invention relates also to a sowing apparatus for carrying out the method.
It is prior known to carry out the sowing in such a manner that the seeds are strewn on the soil by means of free fall or a weak air flow. Thus, the seeds can, for example, be dropped through a seed container gate onto the soil. This type of sowing method is described e.g. in the magazine "Koneviesti", No. 13, Aug. 5, 1994.
A drawback in the prior known sowing methods is the slowness of sowing, some of the seeds landing in a wrong place (by the wind, for example), as well as a poor germinating capacity. Another drawback in the prior known sowing methods is the susceptibility to faults in varying conditions. Hence, the required equipment is also complicated, bulky and expensive. An object of this invention is to alleviate the above drawbacks and that is achieved by a method of the invention such that the seeds are shot by means of a compressed-air pulse to their destination.
The mechanisms intended for carrying out a method of the invention are also set forth herein; and
A large number of applications can be found for the invention. The accompanying figures are only intended as examples and to illustrate the mode of operating the invention.
FIG. 1 shows a sowing apparatus of the invention applied to an excavator; and
FIG. 2 shows a seed dispenser of the invention in principle.
The primary object of this invention is to carry out the sowing effectively and accurately in the right place. Thus, valuable seeds can be spared and the initial growth thereof can be secured as well as possible. The partial burial of seeds in the soil promotes germination. The driving of seeds into soil cavities serves the same purpose, the seeds being shot at a high velocity during planting. This provides a high working efficiency. A method of the invention can be used for carrying out sowing operations for a variety of plants, as the need may be.
FIG. 1 depicts in principle one sowing machine 10 intended for implementing a method of the invention. In this case, a forest machine of excavator type is fitted in the operator's field of vision with a seed dispenser 7, from which extends a seed delivery duct 12 along the machine's working boom 20 to the vicinity of an excavating bucket 30, wherein seeds 1 are shot from a compressed-air line at a high velocity 11 onto a soil 2. Thus, the seeds may partially bury themselves in crumbled and exposed rich soil 2. With a harrow type of crumbling tine 6 it has been possible to prepare the soil 2 for sowing by clearing the brush and by exposing the rich soil and mineral soil from below a layer of hay.
After the soil 2 has been prepared, the operator releases a compressed-air pulse 8, the seeds discharging at a high velocity along the compressed-air duct 12 in the form of a desired shower of seeds 11 accurately to a selected destination. The sowing machine 10 is capable of operating from a single location over a wide range.
FIG. 2 depicts one seed dispenser 7 according to the invention. Following the preceding sowing procedure, the compressed-air pulse 8 can be used for simultaneously loading the dispenser 7 with fresh seeds 1 for another sowing operation. The compressed-air pulse 8 is capable of momentarily placing a metering piston 21 lower in a seed container 4 and, upon rising to a top position 22, a new batch of seeds can be brought up into the compressed-air duct 12 for the next sowing operation. The amount of seeds can be adjusted to be greater or smaller by varying the vertical position of a regulating piston 3 by means of threads 5. After the next sowing operation, the metering piston 21 revisits the lower position in the bulk of seeds 4. Thus, an air space 23 above the metering piston 21 assists by dropping the extra seeds 1 back into the seed chamber 4.
A sowing method of the invention is particularly intended for supplementary or reforestation (e.g. after loggings or forest disasters). According to the invention, the sowing
REFERENCES:
patent: 3490654 (1970-01-01), Fischer
patent: 3799081 (1974-03-01), Wilsor
patent: 4296695 (1981-10-01), Ouanbeck
patent: 4491275 (1985-01-01), Holsworth
patent: 4970973 (1990-11-01), Lyle et al.
patent: 5156102 (1992-10-01), Andersen
Melius Terry Lee
Pezzuto Robert
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