US4572087A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fertilizer injection apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-12-31
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Granted: 1986-02-25
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Expires: 2004-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A fertilizer injection apparatus having hollow, ground-piercing knives connected by tubes to a hopper with a fertilizer delivery system. A tool bar is connected to the hopper by rigid links pivoted to the tool bar at one end about the single axle of the hopper at the other end. A bell crank lever mechanism interconnected between the tool bar, each link and the hopper, maintains the hopper level with the ground regardless of whether the knives are above ground or how far they are inserted. The tool bar and hopper combination are pivotally towed by a tractor and a liquid fertilizer tank system which delivers its contents through hoses to an anterior point on each knife is towed behind the hopper.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Phillip Brannan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:56
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01C; A01C23/00; A01C23/02; A01C23/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
338 words
An apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground, comprising: a hollow, ground-piercing knife mounted on a tool bar, said tool bar having a hitch-bearing tongue for pivotal connection to a tractor means; a dry fertilizer hopper means pivotally supported on a single axle, said axle being supported above the ground by wheel means rotatably connected thereto; means for injecting dry fertilizer from said hopper, to the hollow portion of said ground piercing knife and out of a port in said hollow portion into the ground; a first rigid link means rotatably connected at one end about said single axle and pivotally connected at its other end to said tool bar about an axis parallel to said axle; means for controlling the angle between said tool bar and said first rigid link; a bell crank lever means pivotally connected to said first rigid link means and having means for pivotally connecting one leg to a second rigid link means which is pivotally connected at its other end to said hopper and means for pivotally connecting its other leg to a third rigid link means which is pivotally connected at its other end to said tool bar; and wherein the fore and aft length of said tool bar, the length of said first rigid link means, the length of the legs of said bell crank lever means, the angle between the legs of said bell crank lever means, the location of where said bell crank lever means is pivotally connected to said first rigid link means, the length of said second rigid link means, the location of where said second rigid link means is pivotally connected to said hopper means, the length of said third rigid link means, and the location of where said third rigid link means is pivotally connected to said tool bar, are all such that the angular relationship of said hopper with respect to the ground under it remains substantially constant as the angle between said tool bar and said first rigid link means is changed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
338 words
An apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground, comprising: a hollow, ground-piercing knife mounted on a tool bar, said tool bar having a hitch-bearing tongue for pivotal connection to a tractor means; a dry fertilizer hopper means pivotally supported on a single axle, said axle being supported above the ground by wheel means rotatably connected thereto; means for injecting dry fertilizer from said hopper, to the hollow portion of said ground piercing knife and out of a port in said hollow portion into the ground; a first rigid link means rotatably connected at one end about said single axle and pivotally connected at its other end to said tool bar about an axis parallel to said axle; means for controlling the angle between said tool bar and said first rigid link; a bell crank lever means pivotally connected to said first rigid link means and having means for pivotally connecting one leg to a second rigid link means which is pivotally connected at its other end to said hopper and means for pivotally connecting its other leg to a third rigid link means which is pivotally connected at its other end to said tool bar; and wherein the fore and aft length of said tool bar, the length of said first rigid link means, the length of the legs of said bell crank lever means, the angle between the legs of said bell crank lever means, the location of where said bell crank lever means is pivotally connected to said first rigid link means, the length of said second rigid link means, the location of where said second rigid link means is pivotally connected to said hopper means, the length of said third rigid link means, and the location of where said third rigid link means is pivotally connected to said tool bar, are all such that the angular relationship of said hopper with respect to the ground under it remains substantially constant as the angle between said tool bar and said first rigid link means is changed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: means for towing a tank for containing a supply of liquid fertilizer behind said dry fertilizer hopper means; hose means for distributing liquid fertilizer from said tank to a point on said ground-piercing knife adjacent to the port thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 2, wherein said towing means is detachable and said hose means further includes means for uncoupling said hose means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 3, wherein said dry fertilizer injecting means further includes: means for conveying fertilizer forward along the bottom of said hopper means; chamber means mounted to the front of said hopper means and having means for receiving fertilizer from said conveying means and tube means connecting said chamber means to the hollow portion of said knife; and fan means mounted on said hopper means for blowing fertilizer from said chamber into said hose means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tool bar supports more than one hollow, ground-piercing knife, said chamber means has separate tube means for connecting it to each knife, whereby the fertilizer in said chamber will be substantially evenly distributed to each knife.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 5 wherein said wheel means includes: a truss means rotatably connected to said axle near one end thereof and another near the other end thereof; and a single wheel journaled fore and a single wheel journaled aft to each of said truss means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 2, wherein said dry fertilizer injecting means further includes: means for conveying fertilizer forward along the bottom of said hopper means; chamber means mounted to the front of said hopper means and having means for receiving fertilizer from said conveying means and tube means connecting said chamber means to the hollow portion of said knife; and fan means mounted on said hopper means for blowing fertilizer from said chamber into said hose means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tool bar supports more than one hollow, ground-piercing knife, said chamber means has separate tube means for connecting it to each knife, whereby the fertilizer in said chamber will be substantially evenly distributed to each knife.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 8, wherein said wheel means includes: a truss means rotatably connected to said axle near one end thereof and another near the other end thereof; and a single wheel journaled fore and a single wheel journaled aft to each of said truss means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first rigid link means, said angle controlling means, said bell crank lever means, said second rigid link means, and said third rigid link means each include a left-handed element located to the left of center of said hopper means and a right-handed element located on the right of center of said hopper means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 2 wherein said wheel means includes: a truss means rotatably connected to said axle near one end thereof and another near the other end thereof; and a single wheel journaled fore and a single wheel journaled aft to each of said truss means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first rigid link means, said angle controlling means, said bell crank lever means, said second rigid link means, and said third rigid link means each include a left-handed element located to the left of center of said hopper means and a right-handed element located to the right of center of said hopper means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first rigid link means, said angle controlling means, said bell crank lever means, said second rigid link means, and said third rigid link means each include a left-handed element located to the left of center of said hopper means and a right-handed element located to the right of center of said hopper means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground in claim 1, wherein said dry fertilizer injecting means further includes: means for conveying fertilizer forward along the bottom of said hopper means; chamber means mounted to the front of said hopper means and having means for receiving fertilizer from said conveyor means and tube means connecting said chamber means to the hollow portion of said knife; and fan means mounted on said hopper means for blowing fertilizer from said chamber into said hose means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 14 wherein said tool bar supports more than one hollow, ground-piercing knife, said chamber means has separate tube means for connecting it to each knife, whereby the fertilizer in said chamber will be substantially evenly distributed to each knife.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 15 wherein said wheel means includes: a truss means rotatably connected to said axle near one end thereof and another near the other end thereof; and a single wheel journaled fore and a single wheel journaled after to each of said truss means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 16 wherein said first rigid link means, said angle controlling means, said bell crank lever means, said second rigid link means, and said third rigid link means each include a left-handed element located to the left of center of said hopper means and a right-handed element located to the right of center of said hopper means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wheel means includes: a truss means rotatably connected to said axle near one end thereof and another near the other end thereof; and a single wheel journaled fore and a single wheel journaled aft to each of said truss means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first rigid link means, said angle controlling means, said bell crank lever means, said second rigid link means, and said third rigid lock means each include a left-handed element located to the left of center of said hopper means and a right-handed element located to the right of center of said hopper means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus for injecting fertilizer into the ground as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first rigid link means, said angle controlling means, said bell crank lever means, said second rigid link means, and said third rigid link means each include a left-handed element located to the left of center of said hopper means and a right-handed element located to the right of center of said hopper means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-24 | 1989-08-26 | 1990-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-24 | 1993-08-26 | 1994-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-24 | 1997-08-26 | 1998-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |