Abstract A knife for applying substances such as fertilizer in solid, liquid or gaseous form cuts a slice in the subsoil with its leading, rearwardly inclined cutting edge and simultaneously firms up and maintains the lower portions of the sides of the slice in readiness for receiving the substance in a pocket formed by a recess at the lowermost rear of the knife in conjunction with the firmed up portions. The slice taken by the slender knife is of such narrowness and the movement of the knife through the subsoil is of such a streamlined nature that the cohesive integrity and inherent resiliency of the subsoil is not destroyed, promoting self-closure of the slice behind the knife, thus greatly reducing the escape of the substance where it is a gas. A forwardly tapering wedge having downwardly converging faces on the bottom of the knife leads rearwardly from a lowermost, forwardly projecting, sharp point to prepare the lower portions of the slice sides in the proper manner, and laterally projecting, forwardly converging wings overlying the recess of the knife behind the wedge help seal the pocket to trap the substance when it is a gas, such wings also serving to return and press subsoil into the slice after the deposit of the substance.
The method of introducing a substance into the soil while advancing in a predetermined direction comprising the steps of: penetrating the soil down to a preselected level; making a continuous line cut in the soil along the forwardmost extent of penetration extending upwardly without interruption from said preselected level to the upper surface of the soil; progressively parting the soil immediately behind the line cut until a slice of predetermined transverse dimensions is produced, said progressive parting of the soil taking place at a uniform rate of transverse growth along the full length of the line cut until said predetermined transverse dimensions are reached; forming a small, transversely V-shaped bottom in the slice immediately behind the line cut at said preselected level; progressively enlarging said bottom both transversely and upwardly at a uniform rate of growth while retaining the bottom transversely V-shaped; firming up the downwardly converging sides of the bottom simultaneously with said forming and enlarging of the bottom; discontinuing said enlarging and firming up of the bottom at a point spaced rearwardly from said line cut; producing a closed top pocket in said bottom between its firmed up sides; discharging a substance into said pocket and transversely against the firmed up sides immediately behind the point of discontinuance of enlarging and firming up the bottom; and filling said pocket with soil and allowing the slice to close immediately following discharge of the substance into the pocket.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
238 words
The method of introducing a substance into the soil while advancing in a predetermined direction comprising the steps of: penetrating the soil down to a preselected level; making a continuous line cut in the soil along the forwardmost extent of penetration extending upwardly without interruption from said preselected level to the upper surface of the soil; progressively parting the soil immediately behind the line cut until a slice of predetermined transverse dimensions is produced, said progressive parting of the soil taking place at a uniform rate of transverse growth along the full length of the line cut until said predetermined transverse dimensions are reached; forming a small, transversely V-shaped bottom in the slice immediately behind the line cut at said preselected level; progressively enlarging said bottom both transversely and upwardly at a uniform rate of growth while retaining the bottom transversely V-shaped; firming up the downwardly converging sides of the bottom simultaneously with said forming and enlarging of the bottom; discontinuing said enlarging and firming up of the bottom at a point spaced rearwardly from said line cut; producing a closed top pocket in said bottom between its firmed up sides; discharging a substance into said pocket and transversely against the firmed up sides immediately behind the point of discontinuance of enlarging and firming up the bottom; and filling said pocket with soil and allowing the slice to close immediately following discharge of the substance into the pocket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said line cut is made in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined attitude.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the line cut is made downwardly and rearwardly concave from the surface of the soil to said preselected level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said penetrating of the soil includes piercing the same at the lowermost extent of the line cut.