Apparatus for subsoil irrigation

Claim 2

A fluid application apparatus adapted to be supported on a translatable vehicle for use in applying a fluid soil conditioning medium to the subsoil of a predetermined area comprising, in combination: a. frame support means adapted to be carried by translatable vehicle means; b. means carried by said frame support means for making openings in the soil of an area in which a subsoil application is to be made in response to a traversing operation of said vehicle and frame support means; c. means carried by said frame support means for applying fluid through said openings into the subsoil of said area; and d. fluid input conduit means carried on said frame support means, said input conduit means being operable for delivering fluid therethrough from a stationary fluid supply means, said fluid input conduit means including a horizontal portion, pivot means located midway between the sides of said frame support means mounting said horizontal portion for swinging movement through an angle of 180*, said horizontal portion being of a length approximately equal to one-half the width of said frame support means, so that the end of said horizontal portion opposite the pivot means may be swung from a position adjacent one side of the frame support means to a position adjacent the other side thereof, means connecting said horizontal portion at its pivoted end in flow communication to said means for making openings in the soil, and flexible conduit means connected to said end of the horizontal portion opposite the pivot means for establishing flow connection to a fluid supply source.

Claim 3

A fluid application apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for making openings in the subsoil includes a plurality of horizontally spaced means operable for simultaneously making a plurality of openings in said soil during said traversing operation.

Claim 4

A fluid application apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for making said openings in said soil includes a plurality of horizontally spaced soil splitting shank means supported on said frame support means.

Claim 5

A fluid application apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said soil splitting shank means includes conduit means thereon for conveying said fluid through the openings in the soil and operable for ejecting said fluid into the subsoil of said area being traversed.

Claim 6

A fluid application apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fluid applying means includes pressure developing means operatively associated therewith for ejecting said fluid through said openings into the subsoil of said area being traversed.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 1 further including latching means for holding said horizontal portion of said input conduit means in each of the positions in which an end of said input conduit means is adjacent one side of said frame support means.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in Claim 6 including means for releasing said latching means and for swinging said horizontal portion of said input conduit means about its pivot.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 7 including a hydraulic cylinder and piston having connections for actuating said releasing means and said swinging means, said connections including a lost-motion connection for causing the release of the latching means prior to the swinging of said input conduit means.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said latching means includes a latch element pivoted for movement about a horizontal axis and having an inverted U-shaped notch adapted to embrace said horizontal portion of said input conduit means.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said latch element is provided, at its end opposite the pivot, with an inclined surface positioned to be engaged by the horizontal portion of said input conduit means in its swinging movement, to lift the latch element so that said horizontal portion may pass under it and thereafter to allow the latch element to drop into a position in which said notch embraces said horizontal portion.

Claim 12

A fluid application apparatus adapted to be supported on a translatable vehicle for use in applying a fluid soil conditioning medium to the subsoil of a predetermined area comprising, in combination: a. frame support means adapted to be carried by translatable vehicle means; b. means carried by said frame support means for making openings in the soil of an area in which a subsoil application is to be made in response to a traversing operation of said vehicle and frame support means; c. means carried by said frame support means for applying fluid through said openings into the subsoil of said area; and d. fluid input conduit means carried on said frame support means, said input conduit means being operable for delivering fluid therethrough from a stationary fluid supply means, said fluid input conduit means including a horizontal portion, pivot means located midway between the sides of said frame support means mounting said horizontal portion for swinging movement through an angle of 180*, said horizontal portion being of a length approximately equal to one-half the width of said frame support means, so that the end of said horizontal portion opposite the pivot means may be swung from a position adjacent one side of the frame support means to a position adjacent the other side thereof, said horizontal portion being connected at its pivot end in flow communication to said means for making openings in the soil, fluid coupling swivel means connected to that end of said horizontal portion remote from said pivot means for defining a vertically pivoted fluid coupling element, and flexible conduit means connecting said fluid coupling element in flow communication with said stationary fluid supply means.

Claim 13

A fluid application apparatus adapted to be supported on a translatable vehicle for use in applying a fluid soil conditioning medium to the subsoil of a predetermined area comprising, in combination: a. frame support means adapted to be carried by translatable vehicle means; b. means carried by said frame support means for making openings in the soil of an area in which a subsoil application is to be made in response to a traversing operation of said vehicle and frame support means; c. means carried by said frame support means for applying fluid through said openings into the subsoil of said area; and d. fluid input conduit means carried on said frame support means, said input conduit means being operable for delivering fluid therethrough from a stationary fluid supply means, said fluid input conduit means including a horizontal portion, pivot means located midway between the sides of said frame support means mounting said horizontal portion for swinging movement through an angle of 180*, said horizontal portion being of a length approximately equal to one-half the width of said frame support means, so that the end of said horizontal portion opposite the pivot means may be swung from a position adjacent one side of the frame support means to a position adjacent the other side thereof, said horizontal portion being connected at its pivot end in flow communication to said means for making openings in the soil, fluid coupling swivel means connected to that end of said horizontal portion remote from said pivot means for defining a vertically pivoted fluid coupling element, and flexible conduit means connecting said fluid coupling element in flow communication with said stationary fluid supply means.

Claim 14

Apparatus as in claim 11 further including latching means for holding said horizontal portion of said input conduit means in each of the positions in which an end of said input conduit means is adjacent one side of said frame support means.