CA3226144A1 - Aerodynamic and centrifugal seed orientation system for agricultural planters - Google Patents

Abstract

A seed orientation coil assembly (240) is configured to receive randomly oriented seeds (28) from an agricultural row planter and move the seeds through a curved pathway defining a curved seed riding surface (292). An air stream is created by injecting air through air injector nozzles (264) onto the curved seed riding surface, and air is removed by venting air through an air vent (268) radially inward from the curved seed riding surface. The seed is stabilized, aligned, and entrained in the air stream using some combination of aerodynamics, centrifugal force, and path geometry. A seed exit (244) is configured to discharge into a wedge-shaped furrow, detraining the seed from the air stream and wedging the seed in the furrow before being covered by a closing wheel, thereby planting the aligned seed into the soil while achieving tip-down seed orientation with the germ facing an adjacent row.

Description

AERODYNAMIC AND CENTRIFUGAL SEED ORIENTATION SYSTEM FOR
AGRICULTURAL PLANTERS
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No.
17/387,778, filed 28 July 2021, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention pertains generally to a seeding device for agricultural row crop planters, and more specifically to a seed orientation system, apparatus, and method for placing seeds in the soil in a selected growing orientation.
BACKGROUND

[0003] Agriculture is an industry that has been and continues to be heavily shaped and influenced by industrialization. Progress has been made at a breath-taking pace. Each improvement in speed or reliability to complete a task provides a substantial reward to the farms, by enabling the same number of farm workers to farm ever-increasing acreage in a given amount of time. Because of these amazing gains in productivity that have and continue to be made, over the last five decades the cost of basic food necessities has dropped relative to other components of the general cost of living. This provides enormous benefit to society, since a safe and stable food supply for the ever-increasing population is vital to the health and well-being of individuals and the stability of governments and countries.

[0004] There are a number of different needs that must be improved upon for a farm work force to expand the amount of acreage being tended. These include more rapid and efficient planting of seeds or seedlings, more rapid and efficient tending of the crops between planting and harvest, and more rapid and efficient harvesting. Critically, both planting and harvest may have very short, unpredictable time windows within which a farm crew must complete the work.
There are more times than any farm would like when the weather interferes with planting. As an example, a cold, late spring with late frost that is followed by substantial rains can leave the fields partially flooded and too muddy and soft to enter with the equipment.
The farm is forced to wait for the field to dry, and this combination can leave the farm with only a few days to plant the crop. If they fail, precious acreage may be forced to sit idle, substantially reducing the crop yield and income that the farm receives. Similarly, germination rates can be significantly affected by temperature and moisture, so finding the optimum weather forecast and getting all of the land planted within that optimum weather window can also significantly affect crop yields.

[0005] Recognizing these needs, modern agricultural equipment manufacturers have strived and succeeded in producing ever larger and still highly reliable machinery that allows a farm work force to plant more seeds in less time. In contrast to the days of yore when a farmer used an ox or other farm animal to pull a single bottom plow, and then followed with seed by hand to plant that crop, modern machinery now plants many rows simultaneously, and at speeds of travel that can greatly exceed that which was previously possible.

[0006] Agricultural row crop planters typically include a seed hopper connected to a seed metering system that delivers seeds into a furrow formed by disc opener blades. A plurality of these row crop planters are typically mounted in parallel along a tool bar which is attached to a tractor. For example, it is common as of the time of this filing to have twenty-four or thirty-six row units attached to a single tractor.

[0007] For such a large assembly to be effective, the apparatus must be extremely reliable.
With twenty-four "clones" of the equipment, the likelihood of failure is twenty-four times greater than it would be with a single row planter. When the row crop planter does fail, it is also critical that the equipment is quick and easy for the farm workers to repair or replace, because the repair time not only slows down the failed row, but planting is stopped for all twenty-four rows. The likelihood of failure and impact of repair time is even greater when the assembly is a thirty-six row planter.

[0008] Within a typical prior art row crop planter, seeds are delivered in bulk from the seed hopper to the metering system. The metering system precisely singulates the bulk seeds, and will most preferably provide these singulated seeds at very predictable and repeatable time intervals. There has been much development of improved metering systems, and these in general have proven to be quite reliable. The row crop planter subsequently delivers one seed at a time into the ground, typically into a furrow cut by the opener blades.
The speed of release of individual seeds from the metering system is preferably adjustable, to properly control the spacing of the seeds based upon the speed of the tractor and row crop planters relative to the ground.

[0009] The standard method of seed delivery from the seed hopper to the ground is a gravity drop system that locates a seed tube inlet below the seed metering system. A
singulated seed drops from the metering system down the seed tube and into a furrow prepared by opener blades disposed forward of the seed tube. This standard method of seed delivery, while a vast improvement over older techniques, leaves much room for improvement in desired seed placement, seed spacing, and relative velocity of the seed as it hits the ground. One very common issue today is that the seed tends to bounce unpredictably when it lands in the furrow, and can roll or tumble in either direction. Some seeds may stick when they land, while others may tumble for significant distances. This is particularly challenging as the speed of the planter relative to the ground increases, since the seeds that tumble or roll will have greater momentum to carry them farther from the intended target.

[0010] In order to obtain constant, uniform seed spacing at high planting speeds, apparatus have been devised that improve the delivery of the seed. Exemplary U.S.
patents include:
5,974,988 by Stufflebeam et al; 6,332,413 by Stufflebeam et al; 8,336,471 by Gilstring; and 8,789,482 by Garner et al. The typical row unit such as that illustrated by Stufflebeam et al, Gilstring, and Garner et al delivers seeds to the furrow with the seed timing and therefore seed spacing more precisely controlled, even at significantly increased planting speeds than generally used in the prior art. In each of these patents this is accomplished by controlling the seed travel and bounce, though each patent does so with different techniques. The Stufflebeam et al patents provide a specially shaped curvilinear feed tube of low coefficient of friction material. Gilstring provides a high-speed air transport through a small diameter feed tube. Garner et al use a brush to separate and control movement of seed. However, none of these patents make any attempt to orient a seed, or provide any way to ensure the seed will remain oriented into the soil and while being covered with soil.

[0011] Optimizing seed orientation, tip down with germ facing adjacent row during planting, results in a quicker and more even emergence, increased light interception, and faster canopy closure resulting in reduced weed pressure. When the tip of the seed is pointed down into the ground, the root and coleoptiles do not waste time and energy wrapping around the seed. Thus the crop has quicker and more even emergence and greater stand uniformity.

[0012] There are further production advantages when the germ of the seed is orientated toward an adjacent row, generally perpendicular to the row the seed is in. The leaf structure of corn plants aligns with the germ/embryo direction. When the germ is facing toward the adjacent row, the leaves orient between rows and not over neighboring plants within the same row. As a result of optimized leaf structure there is greater light interception for the plant.
Moreover, the optimized leaf structure provides a quicker canopy closure which preserves moisture and reduces weed pressure.

[0013] In contrast, with random orientation some plants emerge earlier or later than the majority of the crop, and some plants shade neighboring plants. Both contribute to substantially reduced yields, as evidenced by a number of studies. One exemplary thesis on the topic entitled "The Effects of Planting Techniques on Maize Grain Yield and Silage Production," by Tyler D.
Kaufman in an Illinois State University publication dated Sep. 12, 2013, establishes that an optimal seed orientation can improve yield by 14-19% for a given field.
Clearly, there is much economic incentive for an agricultural row planter that provides this optimum seed orientation.

[0014] Some early pioneers devised apparatus to selectively orient seed.
Exemplary U.S.
patents include: 3,134,346 by Mann; 3,195,485 by Reynolds; and 3,217,674 by Williams. Each of these disclose narrow slots through which a seed passes, thereby forcing the flat major surfaces of the seed to align with the walls of the slot. This provides orientation of the flat major surfaces, but fails to orient the seed with the point down. In addition, the seeds must be of predictable size, preferably pre-graded as described by Mann. Unfortunately, as also noted by Mann, even with graded seed there will be errant sizes of seed in a batch.
Furthermore, and even with perfectly graded seed, during planting in the field these narrow slots are easily clogged by other debris and are difficult and time-consuming to clean.

[0015] Another approach to proper orientation of a seed is the use of a holder for the seed. One type of holder is illustrated by US patent 3,636,897 by Brink, which uses seeds pre-encapsulated into a disk-shaped seed capsule. As long as the seeds are properly oriented within the disk, then the seeds are fed through a gearing structure that retains and orients the disk. As may be appreciated, this machinery is unaware of the orientation of the seed point, and so like Mann and Reynolds just described, this provides orientation of the flat major surfaces, but fails to orient the seed with the point down. CN 101663935 by Lu et al improves upon the Brink patent by providing a seed holder that is uniquely shaped to establish orientation.
Nevertheless, these seed encapsulations incur undesired cost associated with the creation of the seed capsule, extra volume required for seed storage prior to planting, and the potential for premature germination or spoilage as a result of encapsulation.

[0016] Another very common seed holder is an indeterminate length tape to which a seed is adhered. Seed tapes very precisely and uniformly space the seeds, and other substances such as herbicides or fertilizers may be disposed on the tape as well to aid in the growth and development of the seed. Such tapes have been manufactured for many years, particularly to benefit hobby gardeners, since the gardener may then much more quickly and precisely plant, with little or no seed waste. An exemplary U.S. published patent application illustrating larger commercial planters using seed tape is 2013/0152836 by Deppermann et al.

[0017] Some artisans have recognized that the seeds may be oriented when adhered to the tape.
Exemplary Chinese published patents applications include: CN 103609227 by He et al; and CN
104255130 by He et al, both applied for by the Agricultural University of China.

[0018] Unfortunately, and similar to the seed capsules, there is: extra expense associated with the creation of the seed tape, including extra steps and handling if seeds are to be oriented; extra volume required for seed storage prior to planting; and the potential for premature germination or spoilage as a result of placement on the tape. In addition, the adhesion of the seed to the tape can be unpredictable and hard to adequately control, the tape acts as a waste material that can interfere with seed germination and growth, and the tape is quite difficult to reliably insert into the ground and then properly cover at high speeds. As described in CN
108207212 by Chen et al, and also applied for by the Agricultural University of China, the aforementioned CN
103609227 and CN 104255130 suffer from the "following deficiencies: 1) The seed belt is difficult to manufacture and lay out, and the efficiency is low; 2) The seed reel is bulky and inconvenient to store."

[0019] As an alternative to the seed tape, CN 108207212 proposes a cartridge that contains oriented corn seed. The cartridge has been designed to make manufacturing and seed insertion easier, and to reduce the bulk of a seed tape. Nevertheless, use of the cartridge still requires moving the seed from the cartridge to the soil while maintaining orientation, and the patent fails to disclose how this is achieved. As noted herein above, movement of the seed without losing orientation has been an obstacle that has not been overcome in the prior art.
In addition, the cartridge still runs the challenges experienced even with the earliest patent by Mann, including:
challenges of proper handling and storage in the cartridge of errant sizes and geometries of seed;
tendency for clogging and jamming during planting; difficulties and time-consumption required to clean; and in the case of the magazine, the necessarily limited size and need for frequent changing when planting large areas.

[0020] For scientific testing and laboratory analysis, some artisans have painted corn seed while still on the kernel with iron-containing paint. Once the corn is painted, then it is separated from the cob. The iron paint then allows the corn seeds to be oriented by application of a magnetic field. Exemplary U.S. and Foreign patents and published applications include:

7,735,626 by Cope et al; 7,997,415 by Mongan et al; and 8,286,387 by Becker et al. This technique is very innovative and can be extremely useful for various laboratory procedures, but too much iron in the soil can stunt plant growth and discolor foliage, weakening and eventually killing the plant. Continued application of iron through multiple seasons can result in iron accumulations within the soil as well, compounding the problem. Consequently, while developed for laboratory use, no techniques are disclosed to handle seed during planting using this technique.

[0021] A number of artisans have applied robotics, often with computer vision systems, to orient seeds and plants. Exemplary U.S. and Foreign patents and published applications include:
2,935,957 by Denton; 8,245,439 by Deppermann et al; 9,924,629 by Batcheller et al;
2019/0223372 by Koch et al; 2019/0230846 by Koch et al; 2019/0289778 by Koch et al;
2019/0289779 by Koch et al; 2020/0187410 by Bredeweg; and WO 2020/247985 by Leifker et al. While robotics and vision technologies have advanced, the combination of a seed-orienting robotics system with a vision system disposed close to the ground is nevertheless expensive, difficult to operate at high speed, and prone to failure in the harsh planting environment. As noted herein above, with twenty-four or thirty-six rows being planted simultaneously, the likelihood of failure is also twenty-four or thirty-six times greater. When only one row crop planter fails, the entire machine is shut down, stopping planting of all rows.

[0022] Similar to Gilstring described above, and somewhat less relevant to the present invention, a number of artisans have moved seed by air for transport through a planting apparatus. Such apparatus are sometimes referred to as air seed planters.
Exemplary U.S.
patents and published applications include: 2,783,918 by Bramblett; 3,482,735 by Goulter;
3,790,026 by Neumeister; 3,848,552 by Bauman et al; 3,860,146 by Bauman et al;
3,881,631 by Loesch et al; 3,891,120 by Loesch et al; 5,524,559 by Davidson; 5,601,209 by Barsi et al;
5,603,269 by Bassett; 6,148,748 by Bardi et al; 6,827,029 by Wendte; 7,270,064 by Kjelsson et al; 7,509,915 by Memory; 8,757,074 by Cruson; 9,591,798 by Horsch; 10,412,879 by Cruson;
and 2020/0128725 by Rhodes et al. However, the air flow is used for transport only, and none of these patents make any attempt to orient a seed or provide any way to ensure the seed will remain oriented into the soil and while being covered with soil.

[0023] In addition to the Williams patent referenced herein above, other artisans have devised improved furrow opening and forming apparatus. Exemplary U.S. patents include:
4,798,151 by Rodrigues, Jr. et al; and 6,178,901 by Anderson.

[0024] Other diverse and somewhat less relevant seed and leaf orientation apparatus are illustrated in U.S. and Foreign patents and published applications include:
2,618,373 by Hathaway; 3,623,595 by Brown et al; 7,814,849 by McOmber; 9,861,025 by Schaefer et al;
10,785,905 by Stoller et al; CN 102893723 by Hou et al; CN102918963 by Hou et al; CN
107371486 by Chen et al; and CN 107439101 by Duan et al. Interestingly, the latter CN
107439101, also applied for by the Agricultural University of China, discusses both CN
102893723 by Hou et al and another, CN102918963 also by Hou et al, noting that the CN
102893723 device structure is complex, the success rate of the orientation is low, and the corn seed can not be operated at a distance; and noting that the CN102918963 device is complex, and the corn seed orientation and the distance are separately carried out, such that when the corn seed which is oriented in a flat-lying position is positioned (presumably for planting or the like), the original orientation result is easily destroyed with the root tips of the radicles no longer aligned in a forward direction.

[0025] In spite of the long-standing substantial economic incentive, long-term awareness, and substantial research and development that has been conducted, evidenced by the fact that the Kaufman paper as of this writing is more than seven years old, that several studies referenced by Kaufman are more than thirty years old, that the Mann, Reynolds, and Williams patents are more than fifty years old, and the many other patents and publications described above, proper and consistent seed orientation has not been successfully economically implemented in commercial agricultural row planters. Thus there remains a need for a seed orientation system that economically and efficiently plants the seeds tip down and germ facing the next row in a furrow.

[0026] Recognizing this need, the present inventors devised a seed orientation system for agricultural planters that orients a seed during planting in a furrow first disclosed in WIPO
published application WO 2020/227670. The seed orientation system disclosed therein comprises a seed orientation coil disposed so as to receive seeds from a planter row unit designed for the purpose of delivering a seed into a furrow. An example of a commonly found planter and row unit, for exemplary and non-limiting purposes, is illustrated by the Stufflebeam et al, Gilstring, and Garner et al patents referenced herein above. As shown in those patents, the row unit is typically mounted to a tool bar that attaches to a tractor or similar towing device along with other identical or similar planting row units. An exemplary row unit may include a seed hopper for storing the seed for planting. The seed moves from the seed hopper to a seed meter that singulates the seed at a desired spacing for delivery to the ground. An opener blade forms a trench or furrow in the soil ahead of the seed tube. A gauge wheel controls the depth of the furrow, and a closing wheel subsequently closes the furrow over the seed.

[0027] From the seed meter, in a typical prior art row unit the seed is delivered to the ground through a seed tube. Instead, as disclosed by the present inventors in WO
2020/227670, a seed orientation coil is inserted between the seed tube and the furrow. The seed orientation coil includes a curved seed path, and a pressurized air system to direct an air flow onto the curved path. The airflow directs the seed into a seed tip down orientation on a flat side of the seed and propels the seed down the curved path to a seed exit path. The preferred embodiment curved path disclosed in WO 2020/227670 has a helical shape and comprises a seed guide wall and a seed riding surface, and the preferred embodiment pressurized air system includes a plurality of nozzles to direct a radial airflow component over the curved path and out a series of external vents.
BRIEF SUMMARY

[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention solve inadequacies of the prior art by providing a seed orientation coil assembly configured to receive randomly oriented seeds from an agricultural row planter and move the seeds through a curved pathway defining a curved seed riding surface. An air stream is created by injecting air through air injector nozzles onto the curved seed riding surface, and air is removed by venting air through an air vent radially inward from the curved seed riding surface. The seed is stabilized, aligned, and entrained in the air stream using some combination of aerodynamics, centrifugal force, and path geometry. A seed exit is configured to discharge into a wedge-shaped furrow, detraining the seed from the air stream and wedging the seed in the furrow before being covered by a closing wheel, thereby planting the aligned seed into the soil while achieving tip-down seed orientation with the germ facing an adjacent row.

[0029] In one manifestation, the invention is a seed orientation coil assembly for orienting seed and delivering the oriented seed. A seed entry aperture is configured to be connected to an agricultural planting machine and receive seed therefrom. A seed orientation coil defines a curved seed riding surface upon which the seed travels and aligns that is configured to receive seeds from the seed entry aperture. An air stream has at least a parallel component traveling adjacent to the curved seed riding surface and entrains the seed. The air flow is configured to direct the seed into a seed tip down orientation with the seed in contact with the curved seed riding surface on a flat side of the seed and is configured to propel the seed down the curved seed path to a seed exit.

[0030] In another manifestation, the invention is method for planting a seed in an orientated position within a seed row in soil by using a seed orientation coil assembly having a seed path.
The seed is transferred from a seed hopper to the seed orientation coil assembly, and is directed onto the seed path. The seed is propelled through the seed path while subjecting the seed to a centrifugal force. An air flow is injected into the seed path and entrains the seed.
The air flow is vented through at least one air vent extending radially inward from the seed path. The seed is aligned into an aligned position relative to the seed path and maintained in the aligned position responsive to the propelling step. The seed is moved in the aligned position from the seed path subjected to the centrifugal force to a seed exit path. The centrifugal force is removed from the seed in the aligned position within the seed exit path.
The seed is ejected in the aligned position entrained in the air flow from the seed exit path and into soil in the orientated position with seed tip pointed down and seed germ pointed transverse to the seed row.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention can be understood and appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] FIGs. 1-4 illustrate a seed orientation coil assembly from top, bottom and front side projected, top and side projected, and sectional views, respectively, the sectional view of Figure 4 taken along section line 4' shown in Figure 1.

[0033] FIGs. 5-6 illustrate a seed orientation coil assembly from front elevational and sectional views, respectively, the sectional view of Figure 6 taken along section line 6' shown in Figure 5.

[0034] FIGs. 7-9 illustrate first, second, and third alternative embodiment seed riding surfaces from side sectional view.

[0035] FIG. 10 illustrates a single seed riding surface air jet of Figure 9 from an enlarged side sectional view.

[0036] FIGs. 11-15 illustrate a seed orientation coil assembly from projected, side elevational, top, bottom, and sectional views, respectively, the sectional view of Figure 15 taken along section line 15' shown in Figure 14.

[0037] While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Figures 1-4 illustrate a seed orientation coil assembly 240 designed in accord with the teachings of the present invention. Air from a central blower/fan is coupled through any suitable coupler to a central system air infeed 242, where the pressurized air enters seed orientation coil assembly 240. While air is most preferred owing to both ready availability, low cost, and presence of blowers on most equipment, it will be appreciated in alternative embodiments that other fluid sources will be provided, which for exemplary and non-limiting purposes will include such sources as compressed or liquified nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or other suitable fluids or fluid blends.

[0039] The air enters a central injector core 258 of any suitable geometry, which acts to distribute the air to one or more air injector nozzles 264. As best evident in Figure 4, these air injector nozzles 264 are each directed at helical pathway 290 and inject air onto the seed riding surface 292 at unique and distinct locations. The air injector nozzles 264 are arranged in a helical pattern, following the curvature of seed riding surface 292.
Helical pathway 290 is defined by a trough or other suitable geometry formed into vented outer coil 260, and, as illustrated, includes three revolutions. Nevertheless, embodiments with less or more than three revolutions are envisioned.

[0040] Some portion of the pressurized air jet released from each air injector nozzles 264 will follow within helical pathway 290, and will also be exposed to centrifugal force as the air stream contacts helical pathway 290. As a result, this air stream will interact with any seed 28 traveling along seed riding surface 292. Seed riding surface 292 uses a smooth surface to slide a seed 28 and to retain stability and orientation, preventing rotation and/or tumbling.

[0041] In seed orientation coil assembly 240, the upper inner region is open to the atmosphere through vent 268. Consequently, some of the air traveling in the direction of helical pathway 290 but relatively more interior or radially inward therefrom will peel away and travel out of vent 268. The result in some embodiments is that the highest velocity air stream will travel within helical pathway 290 very near to riding surface 292.
In such embodiments, there will be a reduced lifting of the seed away from riding surface 292.

[0042] While as illustrated vent 268 is simply an open top, in some embodiments one of any variety of protective and air permeable coverings or closures will be used.
Such air permeable coverings, for exemplary and non-limiting purpose, may comprise screening, mesh, micro-porous materials and compositions, a cap with at least one small gap or covered opening, or any other suitable or equivalent apparatus.

[0043] Seed 28 enters helical pathway 290 through seed entrance 266 where the seed is exposed to a combination of air force, centrifugal force, and riding surface friction. This combination of forces is configured by design to orient seed traveling through seed orientation coil assembly 240, such as disclosed by the present inventors in WO
2020/227670.

[0044] The characteristics of seed orientation coil assembly 240 that can be controlled or varied with appropriate design and geometry of injector core 258 and outer coil 260 to tune or optimize performance include but are not limited to: the radius of curvature of helical seed pathway 290 and the number of turns; rate of change of the radius of curvature of helical seed pathway 290; the extent of banking; the seed velocity along seed riding surface 292; change in direction of seed riding surface 292 along one or multiple axes; the extent of the contact surface area, surface finish, and coefficients of friction; the extent and geometry of nozzles 264 and vent(s) 268; the air pressure provided to nozzles 264; and the angle of the injector airflow.

[0045] After being oriented in seed orientation coil assembly 240, the seed is then directed to oriented seed exit path 244 and subsequently planted. Oriented seed exit path 244 is a non-disruptive continuation of helical pathway 290. Most desirably, this ensures that the seed 28 traverses from helical pathway 290 to oriented seed exit path 244 while the flat of the corn seed 28 stays firmly positioned against the exit wall without disturbing tip-forward orientation.
In seed orientation coil assembly 240, the curvature of helical pathway 290 transitions to a progressively larger radius into and along oriented seed exit path 244, thereby reducing centrifugal force applied to the seed 28. The centrifugal force is finally removed completely when the seed leaves oriented seed exit path 244. Oriented seed exit path 244 also gently arcs through a rapidly increasing pitch ultimately to a downward direction of travel, thereby rotating the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the seed 28 to point the seed tip down and toward a furrow.

[0046] After being oriented in seed orientation coil assembly 240, the seed 28 is then directed to oriented seed exit path 244, and then into a furrow that is used to capture or wedge the seed to retain its orientation and/or position. In seed orientation coil assembly 240, as the seed 28 leaves oriented seed exit path 244 it will be airborne for a short distance, maintaining its stable state. The seed orientation can be captured and preserved if the seed is propelled into an interference fit within the furrow in the soil. In addition to maintaining proper seed orientation, wedging the seed into firm contact with moist soil around both major faces of the seed will also reduce germination time, render germination times more consistent across a field, and improve germination rates. A very important benefit of the present invention is this increase in consistency of germination time. Agronomists have noted that a very slow-to-germinate seed in effect becomes a super weed, because it is not killed by herbicides, and yet if it germinates late, it will not yield any corn and will instead compete with corn-producing plants for sunlight and nutrients. Delays in germination can be caused by air pockets around or against the seed, or by improper orientation, both addressed by preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0047] The furrow profile preferably needs to taper down to allow seeds of all sizes to be captured. The profile preferably will also have an extended bottom to allow the seed to become wedged or friction fit rather than the seed tip hitting the bottom of the sub-furrow and recoiling out.

[0048] Desirably, a laminar airflow of greater velocity than the seed will continue to entrain the seed within oriented seed exit path 244 and onward through the air and into the furrow.
Within the furrow, primary airflow will be deflected by soil and so will primarily exit longitudinally within the furrow. However, the seed will preferably have sufficient inertia and momentum to separate from the primary airflow, subsequently wedging within the furrow.

[0049] One of the serious shortcomings and challenges faced by the prior art that provides at least temporary orientation, such as referenced herein above, is maintaining orientation all the way into soil and through the closing of the soil around and over the seed.
While it may seem intuitive to extend a prior art seed tube down into the furrow, the prior art avoids such a geometry because a relatively small orifice feed tube required to maintain orientation will clog easily if so extended. Nevertheless, without a suitable airflow of substantially equal or greater velocity than the seed, the seed will almost instantly destabilize. If the airflow velocity drops below that of the seed, the aerodynamics that the present invention relies upon to orient the seed will essentially instantaneously flip the tip orientation of the seed. If this occurs suddenly and without stabilization, which is what happens to a seed being ejected from a prior art seed tube above the soil, the seed will essentially instantaneously tumble in the air, destroying any previous orientation. Even if the airflow velocity exiting the seed tube is approximately that of the seed, the air stream will degrade extremely quickly due to eddy currents and turbulence with the air surrounding the seed tube exit, still undesirably quickly dropping the airflow velocity and causing the seed to tumble.

[0050] In contrast to prior art seed tubes that must necessarily terminate above the furrow, in the present invention the oriented seed exit path 244 preferably extends all the way into the furrow. As a result, the air stream that leaves oriented seed exit path 244 entrains the seed 28 through a very short travel distance measured by approximately the depth of the furrow before the seed separates therefrom. In consideration thereof, in some alternative embodiments of the present invention a seed alignment apparatus such as illustrated in the prior art referenced herein above but not limited solely thereto is provided in combination with the teachings of the present oriented seed exit path 44 and air entrainment, followed by detrainment in the furrow to provide seed orientation apparatuses.

[0051] While the close proximity of the seed exit point from oriented seed exit path 244 to the sub-furrow is beneficial, this is not the sole benefit and novelty of the geometry and operation of the oriented seed exit path 244. In addition to proximity, locating the seed exit point within the furrow also means that the furrow acts as a containment and guide for the air stream that, while not identical, is functionally similar to the containment of the air stream within helical pathway 290 or within an air-driven seed tube. Since the air stream is contained within and guided by the furrow, this also helps to maintain the air stream at a higher velocity while the seed is entrained solely therein. As the air stream passes within the furrow, the air stream is necessarily deflected toward the closing wheels by the generally vertical side walls of the furrow and the sub-furrow opener. This means the air stream changes direction from a primarily vertical path through a sharp curve to a much more horizontal path.
As the much lighter and lower mass air stream makes the sharp curve required by the geometry of the furrow, momentum of the seed causes the seed to separate from the horizontally redirected air stream. Rather than making the sharp curve, the seed will instead keep moving vertically downward deeper into the furrow. Preferably, this separation from the air stream will occur as closely as possible to the bottom, or even within a sub-furrow, so that seed inertia is sufficient to maintain the seed orientation entirely into wedging engagement with such a sub-furrow.

[0052] While the oriented seed exit path 244 will in some alternative embodiments be swept or angled backward to impart a horizontal velocity component, the actual attained horizontal velocity component will vary depending upon the actual exit speed of the seed, in turn controlled significantly by overall system air availability and pressure. In addition, and as will be apparent to those reasonably skilled in the art, changing the angle of the oriented seed exit path 244 will also alter the overall seed orientation when the seed is wedged into the soil.
Consequently, the selection of an exit path angle will be made with appropriate consideration for both of the acceptable target seed orientation and seed-to-ground velocity differential.

[0053] The angle of the oriented seed exit path 244 in some alternative embodiments also or alternatively will be varied to provide finer control of seed orientation. For exemplary and non-limiting purpose, in some alternative embodiments adjustment of the angle of oriented seed exit path 244 is used to compensate for any action or effect of the closing wheel that might cause the already deposited seed to rotate about an axis transverse to the row during the closing of the soil about the seed. Nevertheless, in most embodiments and applications the sub-furrow is inconsequentially disturbed during the closing process, meaning the orientation of the seed in most situations will not change.

[0054] Various embodiments of apparatus designed in accord with the present invention have been illustrated in the various figures. The embodiments are distinguished by the hundreds digit, and various components within each embodiment designated by the ones and tens digits.
However, many of the components are alike or similar between embodiments, so numbering of the ones and tens digits have been maintained wherever possible, such that identical, like or similar functions may more readily be identified between the embodiments. If not otherwise expressed, those skilled in the art will readily recognize the similarities and understand that in many cases like numbered ones and tens digit components may be substituted from one embodiment to another in accord with the present teachings, except where such substitution would otherwise destroy operation of the embodiment. Consequently, those skilled in the art will readily determine the function and operation of many of the components illustrated herein without unnecessary additional description.

[0055] Figures 5-6 illustrate a seed orientation coil assembly 340 that closely resembles first embodiment seed orientation coil assembly 240. In consideration thereof, most of the components will be understood to be identical or substantially similar.
However, second alternative embodiment seed orientation coil assembly 340 also includes an injector core outer wall 359 that at least partially encloses helical pathway 390. As illustrated in Figure 19, injector core outer wall 359 fully encloses helical pathway 390, and in such instance will most preferably be air permeable, for exemplary and non-limiting purpose comprising: one or more internally directed vent holes, small gaps, micro-porous materials and compositions including but not limited to a porous material including but not limited to a mesh or screen, sintered metals, porous carbon, porous carbon-graphite, porous carbon-silicates, open-cell foams of any suitable composition, and other breathable materials and compositions; or any other suitable or equivalent apparatus. The inclusion of injector core outer wall 359 can therefore be used to alleviate the need for any dust covers or other protective apparatus.

[0056] Figures 7-10 illustrate a large plurality of first, second, and third alternative embodiment air jets 93, 193, 293 applied to seed riding surface 292. Seed riding surface 292 preferably comprises a low friction, low roughness, and/or lubricious surface that reduces any tumbling of the seed. Instead, the greater velocity air stream will induce the seed to slide before tumbling or lifting, thereby maintaining an oriented position. While materials selection and surface finish can reduce surface friction, in the illustrations of Figures 7-10 the first, second, and third alternative embodiment air jets 93, 193, 293 are applied to seed riding surface 292 to obtain similar benefit. A large number of relatively low volume air jets 93, 193, 293 are provided with a pressure differential that moves air to and exiting from seed riding surface 292 to reduce the riding surface friction. Air jets 93 comprise generally cylindrical conduits extending perpendicular to seed riding surface 292, while air jets 193 illustrate the option in some alternative embodiments to vary the angular orientation of the conduits relative to seed riding surface 292.

[0057] Figure 10 illustrates a single seed riding surface air jet of Figure 9 from an enlarged view. As evident therefrom, seed riding surface air jets 293 may in some embodiments be provided with additional geometry designed to control the flow and swirl of air for particular desired effect. As visible therein, generally cylindrical air jet conduit 298 ends prior to seed riding surface 292, with the air flow instead being conveyed through an air swirl and flow shaping orifice 299 of any suitable geometry. For exemplary and non-limiting purpose, an air swirl and flow shaping orifice 299 in some embodiments is configured to generate an eddy-type swirl similar to that created by dimples in a golf ball, though other geometries will be recognized by those skilled in the art of nozzles to obtain desired air flow adjacent to surface 292 and seed 28.

[0058] Figures 11-15 illustrate a third embodiment seed orientation coil assembly 440 including an integral seed collector 432. System air infeed 442 drives air through air injector nozzle 464 into helical pathway 490. In the region adjacent to system air infeed 442, helical pathway 490 is fully enclosed and unvented. However, shortly thereafter vented outer coil 460 is provided with an open interior vent 468, which may be entirely open as illustrated, or which in alternative embodiments is covered by an air-permeable surface.
Vented outer coil 460 may comprise any number of degrees of rotation, though as illustrated by approximately a single 360 degree rotation. The relatively small diameter helps to increase the centrifugal force applied to a seed. After passing through vented outer coil 460, the seed will then pass into and through oriented seed exit path 444 which functions in the manner of oriented seed exit path 244 already described herein above. This third alternative embodiment seed orientation coil assembly 440 illustrates a combination of a single air injector nozzle 464, greater centrifugal force generation, shorter overall seed path length from seed collector 432 to oriented seed exit path 444, and a single long interior vent 468.

[0059] In some alternative embodiments, system air infeed 442 is positioned lower along helical pathway 490, intermediate between the position illustrated in Figures 11-15 and the aft end of oriented seed exit path 444. In such embodiments, seed entering into seed orientation coil assembly 440 will most preferably be delivered with appropriate velocity to traverse seed riding path 492 and, where provided, gently engage with a seed guide wall similar to and designed in accord with the teachings of the seed guide wall disclosed in our published application WO 2020/227670. It will be understood herein that such a guide wall will be provided in some alternative embodiments to the seed orientation coil assemblies 240, 340, 440. In such embodiments, the major component of riding surface friction preferably will be derived from seed riding surface 292, and only a minor component of riding surface friction will be derived from the seed guide wall.

[0060] As already aforementioned with respect to seed orientation coil assembly 240, seed riding surfaces 292, 392, 492 may be curved, planar, or of other suitable geometry in profile, and the characteristics of the seed orientation coil assemblies 240, 340, 440 can be controlled or varied with appropriate design and geometry of injector core and outer coil including but not limited to: the diameter of helical seed pathway and the number of turns;
the extent of banking, also described herein as the angle of the radially outward slope of the seed riding surface 292 profile; the seed velocity along seed riding surface; the extent of the contact surface area, surface finish, coefficients of friction including in some embodiments different coefficients of friction between seed riding surface and seed guide wall, the extent and volume and pressure of seed riding surface air jets such as 93, 193, 293, and venting; the extent and geometry of air injector nozzles such as air injector nozzles 264, 364, 464 and vents such as vents 268, 368, 468; the air pressure provided to air injector nozzles 264, 364, 464; and the angle of injector airflow.

[0061] Owing to the construction of seed orientation system 30, even in the event of a failure to orient a seed preferred embodiments of the present invention will continue to plant such unoriented seeds without interfering with the ordinary operation of row unit 10.
Consequently, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been designed to offer substantial benefit in planting with minimal risk.

[0062] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or"
includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms "a,","an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence of or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0063] All references cited herein are incorporated herein in their entireties. If there is a conflict between definitions herein and in an incorporated reference, the definition herein shall control. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0064] An aerodynamic and centrifugal seed orientation system designed in accord with the teachings of the present invention is applied industrially to agricultural planters and row units.
The seed orientation system delivers the seeds tip down and germ facing the next row in a furrow. Although corn is the seed type presented and illustrated, the benefits of proper planted seed orientation also apply to other crop types. Consequently, for a variety of crops where planted seed orientation is important and can be controlled using the present teachings, the present invention will increase production and yield.

[0065] While the foregoing details what is felt to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, no material limitations to the scope of the claimed invention are intended.
Further, features and design alternatives that would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be incorporated herein. The scope of the invention is set forth and particularly described in the claims herein below.

Claims (17)

1. A seed orientation coil assembly for orienting seed and delivering said oriented seed, comprising:
a seed entry aperture configured to be connected to an agricultural planting machine and receive seed therefrom;
a seed orientation coil defining a curved seed riding surface upon which said seed travels and aligns that is configured to receive seeds from said seed entry aperture; and an air stream having at least a parallel component traveling adjacent to said curved seed riding surface and entraining said seed;
wherein said air flow is configured to direct said seed into a seed tip down orientation with said seed in contact with said curved seed riding surface and is configured to propel said seed down the curved seed path to a seed exit.

2. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 1, wherein said seed orientation coil further comprises at least one vent that vents at least a portion of said air stream radially inward from said curved seed riding surface.

3. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least one air injector nozzle injecting air onto said curved seed riding surface and thereby defining said air stream.

4. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 3, wherein said air stream parallel component travels adjacent to said curved seed riding surface at a velocity greater than a velocity of said seed.

5. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 3, wherein said curved seed riding surface further comprises a helix.

6. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 5, wherein said at least one air injector nozzle further comprises a plurality of air injector nozzles each injecting air onto said curved seed riding surface at unique and distinct locations.

7. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 6, wherein said seed orientation coil further comprises an outer coil including a central aperture in which an injector core is disposed, said injector core supporting said plurality of air injector nozzles in a helical configuration aligned with said helix.

8. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 7, wherein said injector core further comprises an air permeable injector core outer wall that encloses said seed orientation coil and thereby defines an enclosed helical pathway for said seed.

9. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 1, wherein said seed orientation coil further comprises:
a plurality of vents extending normal to and terminating adjacent with said curved seed riding surface; and a source of pressurized air configured to release air into said plurality of vents and out from said curved seed riding surface into said air stream and thereby reduce a riding surface friction encountered by said seed traversing said curved seed riding surface.

10. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 9, wherein at least one of said plurality of vents further comprises an air swirl and flow shaping orifice adjacent to said curved seed riding surface.

11. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 9, wherein at least one of said plurality of vents further comprises a longitudinal axis normal to said curved seed riding surface.

12. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 9, wherein at least one of said plurality of vents further comprises a longitudinal axis offset from normal to said curved seed riding surface.

13. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
an oriented seed exit path receiving aligned seed from said seed orientation assembly seed riding surface and configured to discharge said aligned seed into an air space adjacent to a bottom of a furrow;
said air stream exiting said oriented seed exit path and configured to pass into said air space adjacent to said furrow bottom in a direction offset from parallel to said furrow longitudinal axis;
said air stream configured to deflect within said furrow and thereby detrain said aligned seed, to deliver said aligned seed into said furrow bottom in a tip down, major flat surface facing adjacent row orientation.

14. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 13, wherein said air stream passing into said air space adjacent to said furrow bottom maintains a velocity at least equal to said oriented seed prior to said aligned seed detraining therefrom.

15. The seed orientation coil assembly of claim 13, wherein said oriented seed exit path discharges said aligned seed into an air space defined by said furrow.

16. A method for planting a seed in an orientated position within a seed row in soil by using a seed orientation coil assembly, said seed orientation coil assembly including a seed path, comprising the steps of:
transferring said seed from a seed hopper to said seed orientation coil assembly;
directing said seed onto said seed path;
propelling said seed through said seed path while subjecting said seed to a centrifugal force;
injecting an air flow into said seed path;
entraining said seed in said air flow;
venting said air flow through at least one air vent extending radially inward from said seed path;
aligning said seed into an aligned position relative to said seed path and maintaining said seed in said aligned position responsive to said propelling step;
moving said seed in said aligned position from said seed path subjected to said centrifugal force to a seed exit path;
removing said centrifugal force from said seed in said aligned position within said seed exit path; and ejecting said seed in said aligned position entrained in said air flow from said seed exit path and into the soil in said orientated position with seed tip pointed down and seed germ pointed transverse to said seed row.

17. The method for planting a seed in an oriented position of claim 16, wherein said step of venting said air flow further comprises venting said air flow through a plurality of air vents extending radially inward from said seed path.