Data acquisition system for a seed planter

Abstract

The press wheel has instrumentation associated therewith detecting a rolling of the wheel over a planted set. The press wheel also has a computing device connected to the instrumentation and to the speed monitoring device of the planter. The computing device determines spacings between planted sets. The data obtained is real-time data and is readily available to the operator of the planter so that the speed of the planter can be adjusted on the fly to maintain an ideal set spacing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A press wheel assembly for mounting to a seed planter having a speed monitoring device therein, comprising:
 instrumentation associated with said press wheel for detecting a passing thereof over a planted set planted by said seed planter;   a computing device connected to said instrumentation and to said speed monitoring device for determining a spacing between said planted sets.   
     
     
         2 . The press wheel as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a tire having a soft, flexible and stretchable surface. 
     
     
         3 . The press wheel as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said instrumentation comprises a sensor detecting a change in air pressure inside said tire. 
     
     
         4 . The press wheel as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said instrumentation comprises a sensor detecting a change in shape of a surface of said tire. 
     
     
         5 . The press wheel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said instrumentation comprises a sensor detecting a change in position thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The press wheel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said instrumentation comprises an array of pressure sensors mounted there-around. 
     
     
         7 . A seed planter having a speed monitoring device, a set release mechanism and a press wheel assembly; said press wheel assembly comprising:
 a press wheel mounted thereto near said set release mechanism; said press wheel for rolling over sets released from said set release mechanism, and for checking a set roll in each of said sets;   instrumentation associated with said press wheel for detecting a passing of a set under said press wheel;   a computing device connected to said instrumentation and to said speed monitoring device for determining a spacing between said sets.   
     
     
         8 . The seed planter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said press wheel has a soft, flexible and stretchable surface. 
     
     
         9 . The seed planter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said instrumentation comprises a sensor detecting a change in air pressure inside said wheel. 
     
     
         10 . The seed planter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said instrumentation comprises a sensor detecting a change in shape of a surface of said press wheel. 
     
     
         11 . The seed planter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said instrumentation comprises a sensor detecting a change in position of said press wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The seed planter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said instrumentation comprises an array of pressure sensors mounted around said press wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The seed planter as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a GPS system registering a position of each said sets. 
     
     
         14 . The seed planter as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising deflector associated with said set release mechanism deflecting said sets under a forward half of said press wheel, and impact sensors mounted to said deflectors registering the occurrence and intensity of impacts on said deflectors. 
     
     
         15 . The seed planter as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said press wheel has a first and second air-inflated compartments, said first air-inflated compartment enclosing said second air-inflated compartment, and wherein said first air-inflated compartment has a first electrically-conductive, surface, and said second air-inflated compartment has a second electrically conductive surface; said first electrically-conductive surface facing said second electrically-conductive surface; said first electrically-conductive surface being at close proximity from said second electrically conductive surface; said first electrically-conductive surface and said second electrically-conductive surface being connected to an electrical signal detector, and said first electrically-conductive surface being deformable and touching said second electrically-conductive surface when said press wheel being rolling over a planted set. 
     
     
         16 . The seed planter as claimed in  claim 1 , further including mobile communication device associated with said computing device for displaying a real-time planter performance. 
     
     
         17 . The seed planter as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising a main-frame computer and a satellite communication link between said computing device and said main-frame computer. 
     
     
         18 . The seed planter as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said press wheel is mounted on arms and pivots, and further including an encoder mounted on one of said pivots relating coordinates of said GPS to a lower surface of said press wheel.