US 12,477,972 B2
Adjustable seed meter and related systems and methods
Brett Buehler, Dallas Center, IA (US); Alex Hartogh, Huxley, IA (US); and Scott Eichhorn, Ames, IA (US)
Assigned to Ag Leader Technology, Ames, IA (US)
Filed by Ag Leader Technology, Ames, IA (US)
Filed on Oct. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/487,824.
Application 18/487,824 is a continuation of application No. 16/997,040, filed on Aug. 19, 2020, granted, now 11,785,881.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/888,750, filed on Aug. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0032455 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. A01C 7/12 (2006.01); A01C 7/04 (2006.01); A01C 7/10 (2006.01)
CPC A01C 7/122 (2013.01) [A01C 7/046 (2013.01); A01C 7/102 (2013.01); A01C 7/128 (2013.01); A01C 7/0443 (2023.05)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automatically adjustable seed metering system, the system comprising:
(a) a first seed disk comprising first openings defined in the first seed disk;
(b) a second seed disk adjacent to and rotatable in relation to the first seed disk, the second seed disk comprising second openings defined in the second seed disk adjacent to the first openings, wherein the second openings are rotatably and adjustably alignable with the first openings, wherein a rotational axis of the second seed disk is concentric with a rotational axis of the first seed disk; and
(c) a disk adjustment drive system comprising:
(i) a first cylinder operably coupled to the first seed disk;
(ii) a second cylinder rotatably disposed within the first cylinder and operably coupled to the second seed disk; and
(iii) a translational elongate structure slidable along an axis parallel with the rotational axes of the first and second seed disks, wherein the translational elongate structure is operably coupled to the first and second cylinders such that translational movement of the translational elongate structure causes rotation of the first and second cylinders.