US 12,419,213 B2
Aerodynamic and centrifugal seed orientation system for agricultural planters
Mitchell R. Dille, Litchfield, MN (US); and Keith T. Strang, Zimmerman, MN (US)
Assigned to Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Filed by Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/387,778.
Application 17/387,778 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/870,548, filed on May 8, 2020, granted, now 11,751,501.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/885,965, filed on Aug. 13, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/845,093, filed on May 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0192079 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. A01C 7/08 (2006.01); A01C 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC A01C 7/084 (2013.01) [A01C 5/062 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A seed orientation system for delivering oriented seed to a bottom of a furrow, the seed orientation system comprising:
a seed orientation assembly including a seed entry aperture connected to an agricultural planting machine that is configured to receive seed therefrom, and further including a seed riding surface upon which the seed travels and is aligned relative to the seed riding surface;
an oriented seed exit path receiving the aligned seed from said seed riding surface, the oriented seed exit path discharging the aligned seed into an air space adjacent to the furrow; and
an air stream passing through said oriented seed exit path at a velocity greater than a velocity of the aligned seed, said air stream entraining the aligned seed, said air stream exiting said oriented seed exit path and passing into said air space in a direction offset from parallel to a longitudinal axis of the furrow, whereupon the aligned seed is detrained from said air stream and is delivered into the bottom of the furrow oriented tip down, and with a major surface of the seed facing a sidewall of the furrow.