Apparatus and method for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering agricultural products into a furrow during planting

• US 10,064,327 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2016
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMVAC Chemical Corporation (American Vanguard Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AMVAC Chemical Corporation (American Vanguard Corporation)
• Inventors: Conrad, Larry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US15/190,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20170000022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/047 Spraying of liquid fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus

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. In one embodiment a seed cover assembly is operatively connected to a seed tube assembly. A seed cover application tube is mounted to the seed cover assembly. A seed cover brush is mounted to the outlet end of the seed cover application tube configured to contact the carrier containing the product during the dispensing thereof and brush the carrier containing the agricultural product onto the seed being dispensed from the seed tube assembly. In another embodiment, a seed firmer application tube assembly is utilized.

Claims

1. An apparatus for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering a carrier containing an agricultural product into a furrow during planting, comprising

a) a seed tube assembly for dispensing seed;

b) a seed cover assembly operatively connected to said seed tube assembly;

c) a seed cover application tube mounted to said seed cover assembly, said seed cover application tube assembly having an outlet end for dispensing a carrier containing an agricultural product; and

,

d) a seed cover brush mounted to the outlet end of the seed cover application tube, said seed cover brush 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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said seed cover assembly comprises notched distal portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said seed cover assembly comprises a wedge-shaped portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said seed cover brush is mounted to said seed cover application tube by a clamp.