Automatic lawn and garden feeding apparatus

• US 5,366,159 A
• Filed: 09/14/1992
• Issued: 11/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lance L. Childers
• Original Assignee: Lance L. Childers
• Inventors: Childers, Lance L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAINOR, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US07/928,858
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 239/310, 239/322, 222/129.2, 222/136, 222/249, 91/433, 91/442, 91/468, 91/462, 417/392, 137/564.5
• US Class Current: 239/310
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/042 Adding fertiliser to watering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/26 Apparatus in which liquids or other fluent materials from different sources are brought together before entering the discharge device B05B7/2402 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0409 the pumps being driven by a hydraulic or a pneumatic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8597 Main line as motive fluid for follower-type feeder

Abstract

An automatic fertilizing apparatus which injects fertilizer directly into the waterstream of a sprinkler system. Each time the sprinkler system is activated, a predetermined amount of fertilizer is dispensed into the waterstream. The apparatus can be controlled to dispense fertilizer only thru sprinkler lines determined by the user.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically dispensing a controlled amount of fertilizer into a water supply line of a sprinkler system, said apparatus comprising:

A. a non-pressurized reservoir for holding the fertilizer;

B. an injection assembly comprising an injection piston, said injection piston being movable from a first position to a second position within said injection assembly to transfer a predetermined amount of said fertilizer from said reservoir to said injection assembly, and movable from said second position to said first position to inject said fertilizer into said water supply line;

C. a control piston assembly comprising a control piston for controlling movement of said injection piston between said first and second positions;

D. a means for connecting said reservoir to said injection piston assembly to allow said fertilizer to be transferred to said injection piston assembly, said connecting means comprising a check valve to prevent the fertilizer from flowing back into the reservoir;

E. a means for connecting said control piston assembly to said water supply line;

F. a means for connecting said control piston assembly to said injection assembly to control the movement of said injection piston; and

G. a means for connecting said injection piston to said water supply line to allow fertilizer to be injected into said water supply line, said connecting means comprising a solenoid valve to control the flow of fertilizer into the water supply line.