Thomas M Olson

US Patent:

57407479, Apr 21, 1998

Filed:

Aug 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/700214

Inventors:

John F. Stufflebeam - Romeoville IL
Thomas A. Olson - Bolingbrook IL
Lisle J. Dunham - Downers Grove IL

Assignee:

Case Corporation - Racine WI

International Classification:

A01C 704

US Classification:

111185

Abstract:

A vacuum seed metering mechanism arranged in combination with a seed hopper for uniformly dispensing seeds to the ground. The seed metering mechanism comprises a rotational distributor disc provided with a circular row of openings toward a periphery of the disc. The disc carries seeds from a seed reservoir to a seed discharge area under the influence of pressure differential. The disc is rotatably mounted in a housing whose interior is divided by the seed disc into the seed reservoir, on one side of the seed disc, and a suction chamber, lying around a portion of the path of movement of the openings in the seed disc. A salient feature of the present invention relates to the provision of an apparatus for imparting vibrations to the housing for facilitating the release of seeds from the openings in the disc in the discharge area of the seed.

US Patent:

57995982, Sep 1, 1998

Filed:

Aug 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/700222

Inventors:

John F. Stufflebeam - Romeoville IL
Thomas A. Olson - Bolingbrook IL
Lisle J. Dunham - Downers Grove IL

Assignee:

Case Corporation - Racine WI

International Classification:

A01C 704

US Classification:

111185

Abstract:

Sealing arrangement for a vacuum seed metering mechanism includes a housing assembly divided into a seed receiving chamber and a vacuum chamber by a circular seed disc having parallel and flat sides. The seed disc is provided with a circular row of openings proximate a periphery of the seed disc. Due to a pressure differential across the openings, seeds supplied to the seed receiving chamber of the seed metering mechanism are carried by the openings of the seed disc to a seed discharge area of the seed metering mechanism. The housing assembly of the seed metering mechanism includes a cover portion having an integrally formed sealing face; preferably formed of a pair of radially spaced annular flat sealing faces and a transverse ramp portion. The annular faces are joined to each other in a common plane to define the boundary of the vacuum chamber. The sealing faces of the housing assembly are disposed on opposed sides of the row of apertures in the seed disc, and arranged in confronting relation relative to a flat side of the seed disc.

US Patent:

58485716, Dec 15, 1998

Filed:

Aug 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/700225

Inventors:

John F. Stufflebeam - Romeoville IL
Thomas A. Olson - Bolingbrook IL
Lisle J. Dunham - Downers Grove IL
Stephen D. Berry - Plainfield IL

Assignee:

Case Corporation - Racine WI

International Classification:

A01C 700

US Classification:

111185

Abstract:

A seed metering mechanism including a seed singulator assembly for reducing the likelihood of or eliminating double or excess seeds being carried by a seed disc of the seed metering mechanism to a discharge area of the seed metering mechanism for deposit to the ground. The singulator assembly is disposed downstream of a seed chamber and upstream of the seed discharge area of a seed metering mechanism. The seed singulator of the present invention includes a seed engaging member arranged on opposite sides of the path of travel of a circular array of openings on a seed disc of the seed metering mechanism. The spacings between the seed engaging members being such that only a single seed carried in each opening is permitted to pass therebetween.

US Patent:

59749881, Nov 2, 1999

Filed:

Dec 29, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/581444

Inventors:

John F. Stufflebeam - Romeoville IL
Lisle J. Dunham - Downers Grove IL
Thomas A. Olson - Bolingbrook IL

Assignee:

Case Corporation - Racine WI

International Classification:

A01C 704

US Classification:

111185

Abstract:

A seed tube for an agricultural implement having a seed metering mechanism for uniformly dispensing seeds. The seed tube defines an enclosed curvilinear seed passageway extending between opposite ends of the tube. To promote control over the seeds gravitationally passing through the tube, the seed passageway has a smooth but decreasing cross-sectional configuration between ingress and egress ends of the passageway. The interior surface of the passageway and preferably the tube itself is formed from a material having a coefficient of surface friction ranging between about 0. 02 and about 0. 10. The enclosed seed passageway furthermore includes a narrowed front edge extending upwardly from a lower end of, the tube and for a majority of the length of the passageway. The narrowed front edge passes beneath and across, in a fore-and-aft direction, the entire ingress end of the passageway for enhancing control over and such that the individual seeds passing through the passageway have substantially equivalent time therein thus promoting equidistant spacings between seed plantings.

US Patent:

58393781, Nov 24, 1998

Filed:

Aug 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/700217

Inventors:

John F. Stufflebeam - Romeoville IL
Thomas A. Olson - Bolingbrook IL
Lisle J. Dunham - Downers Grove IL

Assignee:

Case Corporation - WI

International Classification:

A01C 700

US Classification:

111185

Abstract:

A seed agitating assembly for a seed metering mechanism including a housing with a seed reservoir area wherein a mass of seeds are held and a rotatable seed disc internally carried by the housing. The seed disc is provide with a circular array of holes or throughopenings for captively transferring seeds from the seed reservoir to a seed discharge area on the seed metering mechanism. The seed discharge area is typically arranged in spaced relation from the seed reservoir. A rotary drive shaft extends endwise through the housing for imparting rotational movements to the seed disc. According to the present invention, a seed agitator assembly is provided for stirring or agitating the seeds in the seed reservoir. The seed agitating assembly includes a generally circular or plate-like member that is operably coupled to the drive shaft. The seed agitating assembly further includes a plurality of flexible arms carried by and radially extending beyond the periphery of the plate-like member for agitating the seeds in the seed reservoir as the plate-like member is rotatably propelled by the drive shaft.

US Patent:

58424288, Dec 1, 1998

Filed:

Aug 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/700216

Inventors:

John F. Stufflebeam - Romeoville IL
Thomas A. Olson - Bolingbrook IL
Lisle J. Dunham - Downers Grove IL
Donald T. Johnson - Lockport IL

Assignee:

Case Corporation - Racine WI

International Classification:

A01C 700

US Classification:

111185

Abstract:

Vacuum seed metering apparatus is operably arranged in combination with a seed storage hopper. The seed metering apparatus includes a rotatable disc having a circular row of apertures for movement along a predetermined path during rotation of the disc. A housing is arranged in seed receiving relation relative to the seed hopper, and includes an interior divided by the disc into a seed chamber to hold seeds and a vacuum chamber extending at least partially around the path of movement of the apertures. The vacuum chamber has a leading end, a trailing end, and a vacuum exhaust port in communication with a vacuum source therebetween. The trailing end of said chamber is arranged adjacent to a seed discharge area where seeds are released from the disc, and an opening is provided proximate to the seed discharge area to enhance the release of seeds from the disc. Particularly, this opening may include a plurality of vertically spaced openings in the seed discharge area and an elongate slot adjacent to the trailing end of the vacuum chamber. The housing also includes an axially extending circumferential wall having a circumferential opening therein.

US Patent:

61650897, Dec 26, 2000

Filed:

Sep 14, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/152714

Inventors:

Timothy R. McGreal - Riverside IL
Thomas A. Olson - Bolingbrook IL
Guntis Ozers - Woodridge IL
Ryan Schultz - Romeoville IL

International Classification:

F16H 708
F16H 712

US Classification:

474101

Abstract:

A transmission apparatus includes a chain operatively engaged with a driver sprocket assembly and a driven sprocket assembly, a tensioner bracket including a roller engaged with the chain, a tensioner rod including a plurality of spaced apart flange portions engageable with a brace and a threaded portion extending through an opening formed in the tensioner bracket and screwably attached to a plate. An operator may unscrew the tensioner rod and pass at least one of the flange portions through a slot in the brace to slacken the chain. The operator may also position at least one flange portion in a narrow end of the slot, and screw the tensioner rod to press that flange against the brace to tighten the chain.

US Patent:

57657203, Jun 16, 1998

Filed:

Aug 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/702294

Inventors:

John F. Stufflebeam - Romeoville IL
Thomas A. Olson - Bolingbrook IL
Lisle J. Dunham - Downers Grove IL
Gerald J. Tiedt - Willow Springs IL

Assignee:

Case Corporation - Racine WI

International Classification:

A01C 700

US Classification:

221211

Abstract:

A baffle assembly for a seed metering mechanism that is mounted in combination with a seed hopper holding a supply of seeds that are to be dispensed into a furrow with regularity by the seed metering mechanism. The seed metering mechanism includes a two-piece housing divided into a seed chamber and a vacuum chamber by a rotatable disc having a series of throughopenings or holes arranged circumferentially adjacent the perimeter of the disc. The disc picks up seeds from the seed chamber and carries them around to a discharge area of the seed metering mechanism whereat they are released for gravitational deposit into the furrow in the ground below. A seed delivery chute gravitationally directs the seeds from the seed hopper to an opening defined by the housing from which the seeds are deposited into the seed chamber. The present invention relates to the provision of a baffle assembly operable from outside of the housing to control the amount of seeds passing through the opening and passing into the seed chamber while maintaining the housing in assembled relation.