Seed metering wheel assembly

摘要

An improved seed metering wheel assembly is provided to deliver a substantially constant flow of seed to a downstream treating device or the like, without any substantial surging of seeds. The seed metering wheel assembly includes an axially rotatable metering wheel having a plurality of strategically sized and arranged seed metering openings therethrough, arranged in circular arrays of differently sized metering openings. In another embodiment, the seed metering wheel includes a central hub section and an outermost rib, with a series of ribs between the hub section and rim, which lie along respective non-diameter chords. Incoming seed is delivered from a seed hopper outlet by gravitation to the metering wheel, which preferably provides a substantially constant open area while preventing wholly unobstructed flow of seeds.

主权项

1. A seed metering wheel assembly operable to deliver a substantially constant flow of seed over a time period and comprising:
a hopper assembly including a seed outlet opening of predetermined shape and size, said hopper assembly operable to hold a supply of seeds and to deliver by gravitation quantities of the seed to said seed outlet opening over said time period; a seed metering wheel assembly located beneath said seed outlet opening and oriented to receive said quantities of seed and to create an output flow of seeds, said seed metering wheel assembly including a seed metering wheel rotatable about an upright axis and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart seed metering openings therethrough and defined by corresponding rib sections, said rib sections and openings oriented to present a substantially constant open area beneath said seed outlet opening over said period of time, with at least certain portions of said seed metering opening-defining ribs extending across said seed outlet opening over said period of time, in order to prevent wholly unobstructed flow of seeds from said seed outlet opening through the seed metering wheel assembly, said rib section and opening further oriented to provide a substantially constant weight and volumetric flow of seed from the seed metering wheel assembly during said period of time; and structure supporting said seed metering wheel assembly in a stationary condition preventing translation of the seed metering wheel assembly during said period of time.