Helical Seed Orientation Coil for Stable Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seed orientation systems for planting fail to efficiently orient seeds in a stable and controlled manner, leading to seed tumbling and loss of orientation during delivery, which affects planting efficiency and seed placement accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A seed orientation system that uses a helical seed orientation coil assembly with a vented outer coil and injector core, combined with a high-flow pressurized air system, to propel seeds through a curved pathway, inducing centrifugal and aerodynamic forces that stabilize the seeds in a tip-forward orientation, and a sub-furrow opener to capture the seeds in a wedge-shaped trough.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If seeds are transported through a straight conduit, then the structure is simple, but seed orientation is lost and seeds tumble during delivery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconduit structureVSAvoidseed orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a helical (curved) pathway instead of a straight conduit. The seed accelerator and orientation coil assembly are positioned at angles relative to the straight-ahead direction, creating a curved trajectory that generates centrifugal forces to maintain seed orientation while preventing tumbling during transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Speed

If high-flow pressurized air is used to accelerate seeds, then seed delivery speed increases, but seed orientation stability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseed delivery speedVSAvoidseed orientation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a high-flow pressurized air system to accelerate seeds through the helical pathway. The air flow works in conjunction with the curved trajectory to generate aerodynamic forces that stabilize seed orientation, allowing high-speed delivery without loss of orientation control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Stability of the object's composition

If a helical pathway is used to orient seeds, then seed orientation is stabilized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseed orientationVSAvoidorientation system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into the seed accelerator and orientation coil assembly: acceleration, orientation, and stabilization are achieved through a single integrated helical pathway design. The angled positioning of components creates the curved trajectory that generates centrifugal forces, eliminating the need for separate orientation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If seeds are delivered at high speed, then planting efficiency increases, but seed placement accuracy decreases due to tumbling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplanting efficiencyVSAvoidseed placement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The helical pathway creates a curved trajectory that generates centrifugal forces to counteract tumbling during high-speed delivery. This allows seeds to be delivered at high speeds while maintaining orientation stability, ensuring both planting efficiency and placement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively stabilizes seed orientation and placement, reducing tumbling and bouncing, and ensures accurate seed delivery by maintaining the seeds in a stable position from the seed meter to the ground, enhancing planting efficiency and accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

combined with a high-flow pressurized air system, to propel seeds through a curved pathway, inducing centrifugal and aerodynamic forces that stabilize the seeds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic force: Drag

Implementation Method 2

propel seeds through a curved pathway, inducing centrifugal and aerodynamic forces that stabilize the seeds in a tip-forward orientation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS20250000013A1Seed Accelerator

Publication Date: 2025.01.02 PRECISION PLANTING LLC

AI summary

A seeding system having a seed meter (13) having a seed disc (120) and a plurality of apertures (122) disposed around the seed disc (120) creating a seed path (123); a seed accelerator having a wheel (911) and a wall (912), wherein the wall (912) is disposed over the seed path to entrain seeds, and the wall (912) and wheel (911) are configured to cooperate to accelerate seed; a conduit (610) for receiving seeds accelerated from the seed accelerator at a first end of the conduit, and the conduit having a second end opposite the first end; a seed orientation coil assembly (130) connected to the second end to receive the accelerated seed.