A seed metering chamber that uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the seed disc rotation

Abstract

This invention proposes a seed metering chamber that directly drives the seed disc rotation using an axial flux motor, belonging to the field of agricultural machinery technology. It solves the shortcomings of existing seed metering mechanisms, such as reliance on mechanical shaft transmission, long transmission chains, poor transmission stability during operation, and high noise levels. In this invention, housings A and B are interconnected to form a seed metering cavity, with the seed disc disposed inside the cavity. A top seed wheel is located inside housing A and on one side of the seed disc, adjacent to the seed disc to form a seed metering structure. An axial flux motor is disposed on one side of housing B, with its output end facing the seed metering cavity and connected to the seed disc. The output end of the axial flux motor has a protruding structure, and the seed disc has a corresponding groove structure. The protruding structure is embedded in the groove structure to drive the seed disc to rotate. This invention is applicable to precision seeding operations in agricultural seeding equipment for quantitative separation and stable seed discharge.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of agricultural machinery technology, specifically relating to a seed metering chamber structure for sowing equipment, and particularly to a seed metering chamber that uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the seed disc to rotate. Background Technology

[0002] Seeders are essential equipment in agricultural production for achieving quantitative and uniform seed dispersal, with the seed metering device being a key component affecting sowing accuracy and operational efficiency. The seed metering device is typically located inside the seed metering chamber of the seeder, using a rotating seed wheel or seed disc to quantitatively separate and individually discharge the seeds. Currently, in precision seeding equipment, a common structural form involves a seed disc or seed wheel working in conjunction with a seed-lifting mechanism to pick up individual seeds, which are then transported to the seed dispensing port by the rotating seed disc, thus completing the seed metering process. This type of structure is widely used in precision seeding equipment for crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton.

[0003] In existing technologies, seed metering mechanisms typically employ mechanical transmission structures. For example, the main power output shaft of the seeder drives the seed metering shaft to rotate via a transmission mechanism such as a drive shaft, chain, gear, or synchronous belt. The seed metering shaft then drives the seed tray or seed wheel to achieve the seed metering function. For instance, in some common precision seeding devices, the seeder's ground wheel or power output device drives the seed metering shaft to rotate via a sprocket and chain structure, causing the seed tray to rotate within the seed metering chamber, thus completing seed separation and transport. While this type of structure can achieve the seed metering function, its long power transmission path and the presence of multiple mechanical components in the transmission chain make it prone to problems such as gaps, wear, and vibration during long-term operation, leading to decreased transmission stability. Furthermore, multi-stage mechanical transmissions are prone to generating significant mechanical noise during operation and may experience reduced transmission efficiency or speed fluctuations under complex operating conditions, further affecting the stability of the seed tray rotation and reducing seed metering uniformity and sowing accuracy.

[0004] Furthermore, mechanical transmission structures typically require numerous transmission components, resulting in a complex overall structure. This not only increases the size and weight of the equipment but also raises assembly difficulty and maintenance costs. In agricultural operating environments, equipment operates under complex conditions such as vibration, dust, and impact for extended periods, making mechanical transmission components more prone to loosening, wear, or failure, thereby further affecting the stable operation of the seed metering mechanism.

[0005] In summary, the existing technology has the drawbacks of relying on mechanical shaft transmission for seeding mechanisms, having long transmission chains, poor transmission stability during operation, and high noise levels. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, and to address the shortcomings of existing seed metering mechanisms that rely on mechanical shaft transmission, have long transmission chains, poor transmission stability during operation, and generate significant noise, this invention proposes a seed metering chamber that directly drives the seed disc rotation using an axial flux motor. This invention is applicable to precision seeding operations in agricultural seeding equipment for quantitative separation and stable seed metering.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a seed dispensing chamber that uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the rotation of a seed disc, comprising a housing A, a top seed wheel, a seed disc, a housing B, and an axial flux motor. Housing A and housing B are interconnected and form a seed dispensing cavity, with the seed disc disposed inside the cavity. The top seed wheel is disposed inside housing A and located on one side of the seed disc, adjacent to the seed disc to form a seed dispensing structure. An axial flux motor is disposed on one side of housing B, with its output end facing the seed dispensing cavity and connected to the seed disc. The output end of the axial flux motor has a protruding structure, and the seed disc has a groove structure corresponding to the protruding structure. The protruding structure is embedded in the groove structure to drive the seed disc to rotate. The seed disc is a disc structure and can rotate within the seed dispensing cavity; seed dispensing is achieved by directly driving the seed disc to rotate using the axial flux motor.

[0008] Furthermore, the housing A and housing B are connected by bolts or screws to form a closed seeding cavity, and a sealing structure is provided at the joint surface of the housing A and housing B.

[0009] Furthermore, the housing A is provided with a mounting base for mounting the seeding wheel 2, which is mounted on the mounting base via a rotating shaft and can rotate around the rotating shaft.

[0010] Furthermore, the seed tray has a disc-shaped structure, and the surface of the seed tray is provided with multiple seed-discharging holes or grooves along the circumference for accommodating seeds.

[0011] Furthermore, the axial flux motor is located on the outside of the housing B, and the axial flux motor is fixed to the housing B by bolts.

[0012] Furthermore, the output end of the axial flux motor is configured as a key-shaped protrusion structure, and the seed disk is provided with a keyway that cooperates with the key-shaped protrusion structure.

[0013] Furthermore, the protruding structure is a plurality of protrusions spaced apart along the circumference, and the seed disc is provided with a plurality of grooves corresponding to the plurality of protrusions.

[0014] Furthermore, the seed disc has a mounting hole at its center, which is coaxially aligned with the output end of the axial flux motor.

[0015] Furthermore, the shell A is provided with a seed inlet, and the shell B is provided with a seed outlet.

[0016] A seed metering system, the system being implemented based on the seed metering chamber described above, which uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the seed disc rotation.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the seed metering chamber described in this invention, which uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the seed disc rotation, are: 1. In this invention, shell A and shell B are interconnected to form a closed seed metering chamber structure, allowing the seed tray and top seed wheel to be stably installed and run within the seed metering chamber. The stable structural support formed by shell A and shell B ensures that the seed metering mechanism maintains a stable position during operation, thereby reducing the impact of vibration and structural deformation on seed metering accuracy. At the same time, compared with some open seed metering structures or those with insufficient structural rigidity, this structure can protect the internal moving parts, reduce the impact of dust and impurities entering the seed metering mechanism and affecting the transmission structure, and improve the stability and service life of the seed metering mechanism.

[0018] 2. In this invention, the seed-top wheel is located inside the housing A and cooperates with the seed tray, so that the seeds entering the seed dispensing chamber can be pushed and guided during rotation. The seed-top wheel limits and assists in the separation of the seeds, so that the seeds can stably enter the corresponding seed-taking position of the seed tray, thereby improving the stability of single-seed separation. Compared with the structure that relies solely on the rotation of the seed tray to complete seed taking, this structure can reduce the phenomenon of multiple seed taking or missed seeds, and improve the uniformity of seed dispensing and the sowing accuracy.

[0019] 3. In this invention, the seed disc is set in the seed dispensing cavity formed between shell A and shell B, so that the seed disc can complete the continuous process of seed picking, conveying and dispensing during rotation. The structure on the seed disc arranges and transmits the seeds in an orderly manner, so that the seeds can be output one by one according to a predetermined interval. This structure is widely used in existing precision seeding devices. Continuous seed dispensing is achieved through stable seed disc rotation, thereby ensuring the uniformity of seed distribution during the sowing operation.

[0020] 4. In this invention, the axial flux motor is located on one side of the housing B and serves as the driving device for the seed metering mechanism. This allows the seed disc to directly obtain rotational power through the motor output. By driving the seed disc to rotate through the motor, the seed metering mechanism does not need to rely on traditional mechanical transmission shafts, gears, chains, or other multi-stage transmission structures, thereby shortening the power transmission path and reducing mechanical transmission links. Compared with existing seed metering mechanisms that use mechanical shaft transmission, this structure can reduce vibration caused by mechanical friction and transmission gaps, improve the stability of seed disc rotation, and reduce mechanical noise during operation.

[0021] 5. The output end of the axial flux motor in this invention is provided with a protruding structure, which enables the motor output end to form a mechanical connection with the seed disc through the protruding structure. The protruding structure transmits rotational power to the seed disc, so that the motor output can stably act on the seed disc. Compared with the structure that only uses friction connection or simple shaft connection, the protruding structure can form a reliable force transmission interface in the process of power transmission, thereby reducing slippage or loosening in the process of power transmission and improving the reliability of the drive connection.

[0022] 6. In this invention, the seed disc is provided with a groove structure corresponding to the protruding structure at the motor output end, so that the seed disc can form a positioning fit with the motor output end during installation. The groove structure fits into the protruding structure, so that the seed disc can stably receive the driving force from the axial flux motor during rotation. This structure forms a stable structural connection between the motor output shaft and the seed disc, thereby improving the power transmission efficiency and reducing the gap and offset problems that may occur in traditional mechanical connections.

[0023] 7. In this invention, the axial flux motor forms a direct drive structure through the cooperation of the protruding structure and the groove structure on the seed disc, so that the motor output power can directly act on the rotation of the seed disc. The engagement of the protrusion and the groove achieves stable torque transmission, giving the drive structure better coaxiality and stability during operation. Compared with the existing structure that relies on a long-distance mechanical transmission chain to drive the seed disc, this direct drive structure can reduce energy loss and vibration sources during transmission, thereby giving the seed metering mechanism lower noise, higher stability and more reliable seed metering performance during operation. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a seed metering chamber that uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the seed disc rotation, as described in this invention. In the diagram: 1-Shell A, 2-Top seed wheel, 3-Seed disc, 4-Shell B, 5-Axial flux motor. Detailed Implementation The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the invention are shown in the drawings, and not all of them. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention.

[0025] See Figure 1 This embodiment describes a seed metering chamber that uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the rotation of a seed disc. The seed metering chamber includes a housing A1, a top seed wheel 2, a seed disc 3, a housing B4, and an axial flux motor 5. Housings A1 and B4 are arranged opposite to each other and connected to form an internal cavity for the seed metering chamber. This internal cavity is used to install the top seed wheel 2 and the seed disc 3 and provides a closed or semi-closed working space for their rotation, seed picking, and seed metering. The connection between housings A1 and B4 can be achieved by screw connection, snap-fit ​​connection, or bolt flange connection, preferably a circumferentially evenly distributed screw connection to ensure connection rigidity and coaxiality. A sealing ring groove can be provided at the mating surface of housings A1 and B4, and an elastic sealing ring can be embedded therein to reduce the probability of dust, mud, or seed coating agent particles entering the seed metering chamber and improve stability in high-dust field environments.

[0026] The shell A1 is a shell facing the seed box side or the seed inlet side, and can form a seed inlet, a seed guiding channel, and an installation and positioning structure related to the top seed wheel 2. The seed inlet can be located on the upper part or the upper side of the shell A1, allowing the seeds to enter the inner receiving cavity of the seed discharge chamber under their own weight or the action of the external seed guiding structure. To ensure that a stable material layer is formed near the seed tray 3 after the seeds enter, a seed guiding slope or guide rib can be set inside the shell A1, so that the seeds flow into the seed picking area of ​​the seed tray 3 along a predetermined path, avoiding the accumulation of seeds in non-seed picking areas, which would cause frictional obstruction or jamming. The inner wall of the shell A1 can be provided with a wear-resistant lining or surface hardening treatment to reduce wear caused by long-term friction.

[0027] The housing B4 is an outer-facing or power-facing housing, with a motor mounting base or cavity formed on it for mounting the axial flux motor 5. The housing B4 and the axial flux motor 5 can be connected by screws, bolts, or a combination of locating pins and bolts. Preferably, a locating stop and locating pin holes are provided to keep the motor axis coaxial with the rotation axis of the seed disc 3, thereby reducing noise and vibration caused by sway. The housing B4 can further be provided with a motor wiring harness exit hole and a protective structure. The wiring harness exit hole can be sealed and stress-relieving using a rubber sleeve or a compression cable connector to adapt to field vibration and muddy environments.

[0028] The seed tray 3 is housed within the internal cavity formed by the shells A1 and B4. The seed tray 3 can be a disc-shaped structure with structural units for seed collection and distribution on its outer periphery or surface. The specific seed collection structure of the seed tray 3 can be selected according to the seed type. For example, multiple seed collection holes, slots, or grids can be evenly distributed around the circumference of the tray surface. Each seed collection unit corresponds to the space for a single seed, enabling the seed tray 3 to carry and release seeds one by one as it rotates. To adapt to different crop seeds, compatibility can be achieved by replacing the seed tray 3 with one of different aperture diameters or structures, or by installing adjustable orifice bushings on the seed tray 3. The seed tray 3 can be made of wear-resistant engineering plastics, metal, or composite materials. The surface can be treated with an antistatic or low-friction coating to reduce seed adhesion and dust buildup.

[0029] The seed-collecting wheel 2 is installed inside the housing A1 and works in cooperation with the seed tray 3. The seed-collecting wheel 2 can be wheel-shaped or ring-shaped, and is positioned corresponding to the seed-collecting area of ​​the seed tray 3. When the seed tray 3 rotates to the seed-collecting area, the seed-collecting wheel 2 guides, limits, or presses against the seeds, thereby helping to achieve single-seed collection and reduce overlapping and missed seeds. The seed-collecting wheel 2 can be installed inside the housing A1 via a pin, a rotating shaft, or an integrally formed support shaft, and can be equipped with sliding bearings or rolling bearings to reduce rotational resistance. In some embodiments, the seed-collecting wheel 2 can also adopt a follower structure, that is, passively rotating by the frictional force of contact with the seed tray 3 or the seeds, to simplify the drive structure. The gap between the seed-collecting wheel 2 and the seed tray 3 can be designed as an adjustable structure, for example, by using eccentric mounting holes, shims, or adjustable clamping parts to achieve fine-tuning of the gap, to adapt to seeds of different sizes and improve seed distribution consistency.

[0030] To achieve continuous seed dispensing in the seed dispensing chamber, a seed dispensing port can be formed on the shell A1 or shell B4, corresponding to the seed unloading position of the seed tray 3. When the seed tray 3 rotates, causing the seed-taking unit to reach the seed unloading position, the seeds detach from the seed-taking unit under the assistance of gravity, seed-pulling ribs, or airflow and fall into the seed guide pipe or seed delivery pipe through the seed dispensing port. To reduce seed rebound or secondary jumping, guide grooves, buffer arc surfaces, or flexible baffles can be installed near the seed dispensing port to allow the seeds to enter the downstream pipeline in a controllable manner. If it is necessary to improve stability under high-speed operation, seed unloading ribs or seed unloading protrusions can be installed at the seed unloading position to assist in pulling the seed-taking unit away and reduce leakage caused by adhesion.

[0031] An axial flux motor 5 is mounted on one side of the housing B4 and is used to directly drive the seed disc 3 to rotate. The axial flux motor 5 can be a disc-type structure, with its output end providing torque along the axial direction, suitable for close-range direct drive connection with disc-shaped loads. The axial flux motor 5 can adopt a low-speed, high-torque design, with closed-loop speed control achieved through a controller to maintain a stable speed of the seed disc 3 under different ground speeds or operating modes. The axial flux motor 5 can be a brushless DC motor or other motor type suitable for closed-loop control. The controller can receive ground speed signals, speed feedback signals, or seeding rate setting signals, and output drive current accordingly to match the seeding rate with the ground speed. The axial flux motor 5 is preferably installed close to the rotation center of the seed disc 3 to shorten the force transmission path and reduce mechanical transmission errors and noise sources.

[0032] Regarding the connection structure between the axial flux motor 5 and the seed disc 3, the output end of the axial flux motor 5 is provided with a protruding structure, and the seed disc 3 is provided with a groove structure that mates with the protruding structure. Torque transmission and circumferential positioning are achieved through the interlocking of the protrusion and the groove. The protruding structure can be a single key-shaped protrusion, multiple circumferentially distributed tooth-shaped protrusions, or polygonal bosses. The groove structure forms a keyway, toothed groove, or polygonal inner hole at the corresponding position of the seed disc 3. Through this structure, a positive meshing mechanical connection is formed between the motor output end and the seed disc 3, which can reduce slippage and improve transmission stability under load fluctuations or impacts. To further improve assembly accuracy and anti-loosening ability, the protrusion and groove can be fitted with an axial clamping structure, such as a clamping cover, clamping nut, or center screw on the side of the seed disc 3 near the motor, so that the seed disc 3 is clamped in the axial direction on the positioning surface of the motor output end; at the same time, a backstop structure, such as an elastic washer, a nylon locking nut, or threaded locking adhesive, can be provided to adapt to the field vibration environment.

[0033] For the support and guidance of the seed disc 3, bearing seats can be installed on the housing A1 or housing B4 to allow the seed disc 3 to rotate stably around its rotation axis. Specifically, a central bearing seat can be installed inside the housing B4, with the inner ring of the bearing engaging with the motor output end or connecting sleeve, and the outer ring engaging with the housing B4, thereby providing radial support for the seed disc 3 and limiting its sway. If the axial flux motor 5 itself has a reliable output bearing system, the axial flux motor 5 can also undertake the main support function, with only auxiliary guide surfaces or limiting steps installed on the housing side to control axial movement. To control the friction between the seed disc 3 and the housing, an annular wear-resistant washer or a low-friction sliding ring can be installed on the inner wall of the housing, with a reasonable gap reserved to prevent dust from entering and causing seizing.

[0034] To ensure the seed metering chamber can be fully implemented and adaptable to different operating conditions, installation interfaces can be reserved on housing A1 and housing B4 for connection to the seeder frame, seed box, or seed guide tube. The installation interfaces can use a standard screw hole array or a snap-fit ​​structure for easy disassembly and maintenance. A protective cover can be installed on the outside of the housing to cover the axial flux motor 5 and its wiring harness connection points. The protective cover can prevent mud and water impact and avoid crop straw entanglement. For ease of maintenance, housing A1 or housing B4 can be designed with an openable structure, such as an inspection cover or quick-lock, so that replacing the seed tray 3, cleaning accumulated dust, or adjusting the clearance of the top seed wheel 2 does not require complete disassembly.

[0035] In terms of operation, the axial flux motor 5 is fixed on the motor mounting base of the housing B4 and the wiring harness is connected; the seed tray 3 is installed into the internal cavity and its groove is aligned with the protrusion of the motor output end, and locked by the axial clamping structure; the top seed wheel 2 is installed in the mounting position of the housing A1 and its fit clearance with the seed tray 3 is adjusted; then the housing A1 and housing B4 are joined and fastened to form a complete closed structure for the seed metering chamber; the seed metering chamber is installed on the seeder and the seed box and seed guide tube corresponding to the seed inlet and seed metering outlet are connected; finally, the controller drives the axial flux motor 5 to run at the set speed, and the seed tray 3 completes seed picking, conveying and metering at a stable speed, realizing low-noise and stable transmission seed metering operation.

[0036] In optional improved embodiments, the axial flux motor 5 can integrate a speed sensor to provide real-time speed feedback, and the controller performs closed-loop adjustment based on the feedback to further improve seed dispensing stability; the top seed wheel 2 can adopt a replaceable wheel surface or an adjustable clamping structure to adapt to different coated seeds; the periphery of the seed picking hole of the seed disc 3 can be equipped with an elastic scraper or a flexible limiting component to reduce heavy seeds; the shell mating surface can adopt a labyrinth-type sealing structure to improve dust prevention; a vibration isolation pad can be added between the axial flux motor 5 and the shell B4 to further reduce structural noise transmission. All of the above improvements do not change the basic concept of the axial flux motor 5 achieving direct drive through the engagement of a protrusion with the groove of the seed disc 3. In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating orientation and positional relationships are based on the orientation and positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0037] The embodiments of the present invention disclosed above are merely illustrative of the invention. These embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the invention to the specific implementations described. Many modifications and variations can be made based on the content of this specification. This specification selects and specifically describes these embodiments to better explain the principles and practical applications of the invention, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize the invention.

Claims

1. A seed metering chamber that uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the seed disc rotation, characterized in that: The device includes a housing A (1), a top seed wheel (2), a seed disc (3), a housing B (4), and ( ). The housing A (1) and housing B (4) are connected to each other and form a seeding cavity. The seed disc (3) is located inside the seeding cavity. The top seed wheel (2) is located inside the housing A (1) and on one side of the seed disc (3). The top seed wheel (2) and the seed disc (3) are arranged adjacent to each other to form a seeding structure. An axial flux motor (5) is provided on one side of the housing B (4). The output end of the axial flux motor (5) faces the seeding cavity and is connected to the seed disc (3). The output end of the axial flux motor (5) is provided with a protrusion structure. The seed disc (3) is provided with a groove structure corresponding to the protrusion structure. The protrusion structure is embedded in the groove structure to drive the seed disc (3) to rotate.

2. The seed dispensing chamber according to claim 1, which uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the seed disc rotation, is characterized in that: The shell A (1) and the shell B (4) are connected by bolts or screws to form a closed seeding cavity, and a sealing structure is provided at the joint surface of the shell A (1) and the shell B (4).

3. The seed dispensing chamber according to claim 1, which uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the seed disc rotation, is characterized in that: The housing A (1) is provided with a mounting seat for mounting the top seed wheel (2). The top seed wheel (2) is mounted on the mounting seat via a rotating shaft and can rotate around the rotating shaft.

4. The seed dispensing chamber according to claim 1, which uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the seed disc rotation, is characterized in that: The seed tray (3) has a disc-shaped structure, and multiple seed-dispensing holes or grooves for accommodating seeds are provided on the circumferential surface of the seed tray (3).

5. The seed dispensing chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The axial flux motor (5) is located on the outside of the housing B (4) and is fixed to the housing B (4) by bolts.

6. The seed dispensing chamber according to claim 1, which uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the seed disc rotation, is characterized in that: The output end of the axial flux motor (5) is configured with a key-shaped protrusion structure, and the seed disk (3) is provided with a keyway that cooperates with the key-shaped protrusion structure.

7. The seed dispensing chamber according to claim 6, which uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the seed disc rotation, is characterized in that: The protruding structure is a plurality of protrusions spaced apart along the circumference, and the seed plate (3) is provided with a plurality of grooves corresponding to the plurality of protrusions.

8. The seed dispensing chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The seed plate (3) has a mounting hole at its center, which is coaxially arranged with the output end of the axial flux motor (5).

9. The seed dispensing chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell A (1) is provided with a seed inlet, and the shell B (4) is provided with a seed outlet.

10. A seeding system, characterized in that: The system is based on the seed metering chamber described in any one of claims 1-9, which uses an axial flux motor to directly drive the seed disc rotation.

Images