U.S. patent application number 16/107374 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-13 for apparatus and method for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering agricultural products into a furrow during planting.
This patent application is currently assigned to AMVAC Chemical Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is AMVAC Chemical Corporation. Invention is credited to LARRY M. CONRAD.
Application Number | 20180352727 16/107374 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57682721 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180352727 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CONRAD; LARRY M. |
December 13, 2018 |
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING THE VOLUME OF A LIQUID CARRIER
USED FOR DELIVERING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INTO A FURROW DURING
PLANTING
Abstract
A method and apparatus for minimizing the volume of a liquid
carrier used for delivering an agricultural product into a furrow
during planting. In one embodiment, a spray nozzle is mounted on a
planter row unit so as to dispense a carrier containing an
agricultural product along a dispensing pattern in alignment with
the pattern width of the spray nozzle, in the direction of the
furrow.
Inventors: |
CONRAD; LARRY M.; (Walker,
IA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AMVAC Chemical Corporation |
Newport Beach |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
AMVAC Chemical Corporation
Newport Beach
CA
|
Family ID: |
57682721 |
Appl. No.: |
16/107374 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15190652 |
Jun 23, 2016 |
10064327 |
|
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16107374 |
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62188555 |
Jul 3, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01C 23/047 20130101;
A01C 5/068 20130101; A01C 7/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01C 23/04 20060101
A01C023/04; A01C 7/06 20060101 A01C007/06; A01C 5/06 20060101
A01C005/06 |
Claims
1. A method for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for
delivering an agricultural product into a furrow during planting,
comprising: a) mounting a spray nozzle on a planter row unit, said
spray nozzle having a pattern width thereof, wherein said spray
nozzle is mounted on the planter row unit so as to dispense a
carrier containing an agricultural product along a dispensing
pattern in alignment with the pattern width, in the direction of
the furrow; and, b) operating said planter row unit to deliver the
carrier containing the agricultural product in a pulsed rate to
provide a substantially continuous line of agricultural product in
the furrow.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said spray nozzle comprises a flat
spray tip.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said pulsed rate is in a range of
3 to 20 times per second.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said dispensing pattern comprises
a strip generally in a range of between 6 and 10 inches.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S.
application Ser. No. 15/190,652, filed Jun. 23, 2016, entitled
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING THE VOLUME OF A LIQUID CARRIER
USED FOR DELIVERING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INTO A FURROW DURING
PLANTING.
[0002] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 62/188,555, filed Jul. 3, 2015,
entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING THE VOLUME OF A LIQUID
CARRIER USED FOR DELIVERING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INTO A FURROW
DURING PLANTING.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to material delivery
systems for agricultural products, including fertilizers,
nutrients, crop protection chemicals, biologicals, plant growth
regulators; and, more particularly to material dispensing systems
for dispensing agricultural liquid products at relatively low
rates.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Most agricultural liquid products applied at planting are
applied generally using water as the carrier, but other carriers
may be used such as liquid fertilizers, at rates of the carrier
above two gallons per acre. Applying the agricultural liquid
products in the carrier at rates below two gallons per acre causes
metering problems with the row planter unit that dispenses these
agricultural liquid products. One issue is that dispensing
agricultural liquid products in a carrier at these low rates
requires a relatively small orifice for metering with a standard
liquid dispensing system. The small orifice results in concomitant
issues with plugging and limits the products that maybe applied at
these low rates. The small orifices become more easily plugged by
contaminates and particulates if a low rate of dispensing is
involved.
[0005] Using selective applicators to control weeds growing above
the crop has been widely adopted as a weed control method. Several
types have been developed. Among them are recirculating sprayers,
roller applicators, carpet wipers, and rope wick applicators of
several designs. A discussion of rope wick applicators is in the
publication "Rope Wick Tips", by Dennis R. Gardisser, Cooperative
Extension Service, University of Arkansas, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, and County Government Cooperating, Publication MP229,
undated. A rope wick applicator works the way the name suggests.
The chemical is wicked from a reservoir to the exposed portion of
the rope. This exposed portion of rope is then wiped against the
plant to be controlled.
[0006] There are several systems used on typical agricultural
sprayers that pulse the liquid at three to twenty times a second.
This range of pulse rate provides a high degree of control of
application. For a given nozzle size and/or application rate the
range of speed of travel is more limited if one is not pulsing the
application of the agricultural product than if one is pulsing the
application. By applying the principals of the present invention,
as will be disclosed below, the amount of carrier to apply the
pesticides, etc. at planting, can be reduced. The amount of
agricultural product can also be reduced.
[0007] In some embodiments of the present invention, the spray
nozzle of the dispensing system of the row planter unit is
modified, as will be disclosed below, to provide a continuous line
of agricultural liquid products. In other embodiments, where, what
is known in this field as a seed firmer or rebounder is used,
features are provided to work with such a low rate of dispensing.
Seed firmers and rebounders are used to better place the seed in
the bottom of the seed furrow or trench.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In one aspect, the present invention is embodied as a method
for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering
an agricultural product into a furrow during planting. A spray
nozzle is mounted on a planter row unit so as to dispense a carrier
containing an agricultural product along a dispensing pattern in
alignment with the pattern width of the spray nozzle, in the
direction of the furrow.
[0009] In another aspect, the present invention is embodied as an
apparatus for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for
delivering a carrier containing an agricultural product into a
furrow during planting. The apparatus includes a seed tube assembly
for dispensing seed. A seed cover assembly is operatively connected
to the seed tube assembly. A seed cover application tube is mounted
to the seed cover assembly. The seed cover application tube
assembly has an outlet end for dispensing a carrier containing an
agricultural product. A seed cover brush is mounted to the outlet
end of the seed cover application tube. The seed cover brush is
configured to contact the carrier containing the agricultural
product during the dispensing thereof and brush the carrier
containing the agricultural product onto the seed being dispensed
from the seed tube assembly.
[0010] In another embodiment the apparatus for minimizing the
volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering a carrier containing
an agricultural product into a furrow during planting includes a
seed firmer application tube assembly mounted to said seed firmer
assembly. The seed firmer application tube assembly has an outlet
end for dispensing a carrier containing an agricultural
product.
[0011] The application rate range of the present invention provides
for a convenient package for handling and shipping. The containers
may be made smaller and lighter than presently used containers.
Manufacturing and shipping costs are therefore reduced.
Furthermore, there is less volume of agricultural product required,
resulting in reduced storage and handling requirements.
[0012] In some embodiments the agricultural product containers are
rigid. In some embodiments the agricultural product containers may
be disposable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for minimizing the volume of
a liquid carrier used for delivering an agricultural product into a
furrow, from a planter row unit, during planting in accordance with
the principles of the present invention, in which a spray nozzle is
mounted so as to dispense an agricultural product along a
dispensing pattern in alignment with the pattern width of the spray
nozzle, in the direction of the furrow.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective illustration of a portion
of the planter row unit of FIG. 1, showing the orientation of the
spray nozzle to dispense along a dispensing pattern in alignment
with the pattern width, in the direction of the furrow.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the system shown in FIG.
1, in operation.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of an apparatus for
minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering an
agricultural product onto a seed in the furrow during planting, in
which a seed cover assembly is used with a seed cover brush mounted
to the outlet end of a seed cover application tube, the seed cover
brush being configured to contact the agricultural product during
the dispensing thereof and brushing the agricultural product onto
the seed being dispensed from a seed tube assembly.
[0017] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective illustration of a portion
of the planter row unit of FIG. 4, showing details of the seed
cover assembly and seed cover brush.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the system shown in FIG.
4, in operation.
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of an apparatus for
minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering an
agricultural product onto a seed in the furrow during planting, in
which a seed firmer assembly is used with a seed firmer brush
mounted to the outlet end of a seed firmer application tube
assembly, the seed firmer brush being configured to contact the
agricultural product during the dispensing thereof and brushing the
agricultural product onto the seed being dispensed from a seed tube
assembly.
[0020] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective illustration of a portion
of the planter row unit of FIG. 7, showing details of the seed
firmer assembly and seed firmer brush.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the system shown in FIG.
7, in operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring now to the drawings and the characters of
reference marked thereon, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an apparatus,
designated generally as 10 in FIG. 1, for minimizing the volume of
a liquid carrier used for delivering an agricultural product into a
furrow 12, from a planter row unit 14, during planting in
accordance with the principles of the present invention.
[0023] The planter row unit 14 may be, for example, such as
manufactured by John Deere & Company, CNH America LLC, Kinze
Manufacturing, Precision Planting LLC, as is known by those in this
field.
[0024] Typical liquid carriers may be, water and/or liquid
fertilizer. A spray nozzle 16 is mounted so as to dispense an
agricultural product 18 (see FIG. 3) along a dispensing pattern in
alignment with the pattern width of the spray nozzle 16, in the
direction 20 of the furrow 12.
[0025] The spray nozzle 16 may be, for example, a flat fan spray
tip type. Such a flat fan spray tip type is distributed by
companies like DG TeeJet, as the DG TeeJet.RTM. Drift Guard Even
Flat Spray Tip. Conventionally, when a flat fan spray tip type is
utilized the tip is oriented so that it provides application in a
broadcast fashion, i.e. the liquid is distributed in a line
substantially perpendicular to the direction 20 of the furrow 12.
However, with the present invention, as can be best seen in FIG. 2,
the spray nozzle 16 is oriented so that application is provided in
the direction 20 of the furrow 12.
[0026] The planter row unit 14 is operated to deliver the carrier
containing the agricultural product in a pulsed manner. The goal is
to synchronize the pulsing with the geometry of the row unit, e.g.
the distance of the nozzle from the ground, etc., so that the
planter row unit delivers the carrier containing the agricultural
product in a substantially continuous line of agricultural product
in the furrow. The pulsed rate is generally in a range of between
about 3 to 20 times per second. Since the bandwidth is in the
direction of travel of the planter row unit 14, for a continuous
pattern flow, with the same size tip as a conventional system, flow
is required generally every 6-10 inches rather than the 1/2 to 1
inch required to provide a continuous application at a lower rate
of application. Thus, the dispensing pattern is generally a strip
in a range of between 6 and 10 inches.
[0027] The spray nozzle 16 is attached to a liquid dispensing line
22 in fluid communication with one or more containers 24 supported
in the planter row unit 14.
[0028] The material dispensing system of the present invention may
be used with other types of agricultural implements, but is
primarily used with seed planting equipment 26. Although FIGS. 1
and 3 show a single row of planting equipment, typical planters
include multiple rows, for example, up to 48 or more.
[0029] As can be seen in FIG. 3, just after the seed 28 is
dispensed in the furrow 12, the agricultural product is dispensed
into the furrow 12.
[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, in a second embodiment of an
apparatus for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for
delivering an agricultural product onto a seed in the furrow during
planting, is illustrated, and designated generally as 29. In this
embodiment of a seed cover assembly 30 is used with a seed cover
brush 32 mounted to the outlet end of a seed cover application tube
34. The seed cover brush is configured to contact the agricultural
product during the dispensing thereof, brushing the agricultural
product onto the seed being dispensed from a seed tube assembly
36.
[0031] One example of a seed cover for a seed cover assembly 30 is
known in this field as the Rebounder.TM. seed cover, manufactured
by Schaffert Mfg. Co., Inc., 105 D Street Hwy 6 & 34 Indianola,
Nebr. The Rebounder.TM. seed cover is a planting attachment that
improves the accuracy and uniformity of in-furrow seed placement on
planters and seed drills.
[0032] The seed cover 38 of the seed cover assembly 30 includes a
wedge-shaped portion 40 for guiding the seed to a furrow 12. This
seed cover assembly 30 is known as a "rebounder" because the seed
is "rebounded" to flow to a notched distal portion thereof. The
notched distal portion serves as an outlet end for dispensing
agricultural product flowing through the seed cover application
tube 34.
[0033] The seed cover brush 32 is mounted to the outlet end of the
seed cover application tube. The seed cover brush 32 is configured
to contact the agricultural product and carrier during the
dispensing thereof and brush the agricultural product and carrier
onto the seed being dispensed from the seed tube assembly. The seed
cover brush 32 may be formed by a metal clamp 46 attached to the
end of the seed cover application tube 34, with seed cover brush
bristles 48 crimped by the metal clamp 46. Therefore, the seed
cover brush bristles 48 become saturated with the liquid
agricultural product and carrier as it exits the notched distal
portion 42. Thus, the seed cover brush 32 essentially paints the
seeds 28 as they brush against the bristles, as shown in FIG. 6.
The seed cover brush is constructed of material that minimizes
interference with the placement of the seeds and is substantially
impervious to the agricultural products being applied. Various
materials and dimensions of brushes may be used. It is preferably a
ferrule style brush. By way of example, the brush width may be on
the order of 1/4 to 5/8 inches; the trim length may be on the order
of 1/2 to 3/4 inches; the length may be on the order of 31/4 to
53/4 inches. Ferule style brushes are manufactured by, for example,
Felton Brushes. The bristles are preferably nylon.
[0034] The seed cover brush 32 can be secured to the seed cover
assembly 30 by a bracket 50 and tab 52 with opening. The seed cover
assembly 30 may be secured to the seed tube assembly 36 by ties
54.
[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 7-9 another embodiment is
illustrated, designated generally as 56. In this embodiment,
instead of a seed cover assembly, a seed firmer assembly 58 is used
in the apparatus 56 for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier
used for delivering an agricultural product onto a seed in the
furrow during planting.
[0036] The seed firmer assembly 58 is operatively connected to a
seed tube assembly 36. The distal end 60 of the seed firmer
assembly 58 serves to force the seed 28 into the bottom of the
furrow 12. A seed firmer application tube assembly 62 is mounted to
the seed firmer assembly 58. The seed firmer application tube
assembly 62 has an outlet end for dispensing the carrier and the
agricultural product. A seed firmer brush 64 is mounted to the
outlet end of the seed firmer application tube 62. The seed firmer
brush 64 is configured to contact the carrier and the agricultural
product during the dispensing thereof and brushing the carrier
containing the agricultural product onto the seed 28 being
dispensed from the seed tube assembly 36. As in the previous
embodiment, suitable clamps 66 can be used to hold the seed firmer
application tube 62 in place. The seed firmer brush extends from an
opening in the distal end 60 of the seed firmer assembly 58. The
seed firmer brush may be as described above relative to the seed
cover brush.
[0037] If more than one liquid agricultural product is desired to
be applied, additional seed firmer application tube assemblies 68
and associated seed firmer brushes 70 mounted thereon can be used.
This could be in the instance where there are incompatible products
thus allowing independent application. One example of such
independent application would be the use of both biological and a
chemical agricultural product.
[0038] As mentioned above, other embodiments and configurations may
be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and
the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *