Mount for agricultural additive conduit

• US 6,006,684 A
• Filed: 03/05/1998
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yetter Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Yetter Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Whalen, Patrick T., Chenoweth, Ronald E., Whalen, Bernard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US09/035,467
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 111/154, 111/118, 111/119, 111/155, 111/121, 111/163, 111/167, 239/516
• US Class Current: 111/121
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/00 Fertiliser distributors combined with seeders A01C7/06
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/06 Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting

Abstract

A coulter disc assembly is pulled by a tractor or other motorized vehicle to create a trench in the ground into which seeds are dispensed. This mounting arrangement of the present invention allows a farmer to inject agricultural additives, such as either liquid or dry fertilizer, into the ground so as to come into contact with the seed immediately after the trench is created and before it is covered over. The mounting arrangement consists of an elastomeric mounting block adapted to connect to a coulter disc frame. A rigid guide rod extends from the mounting block downwardly toward the ground. One end of a tube is connected to a supply of agricultural additives and the other end to the lower end of the guide rod. As the coulter disc passes through the ground to create a trench, the lower end of the guide rod is carried in the trench. As the guide rod engages the side walls of the trench, the rubber mounting block allows the guide rod to pivot rearwardly in the direction opposite the travel of the disc. Unlike prior art spring mount arrangements, the rubber mounting block allows the guide rod and connected tube to also move from side to side, eliminating the need for frequent adjustment and/or replacement of the spring mount. Thus, the guide rod can move laterally, vertically or rearwardly with the contour of the trench while at the same time always directing the treating additives into the trench.

Claims

1. A mounting arrangement for an agricultural additive dispensing conduit including:

a frame member adapted to be moved over soil to be tilled and fertilized;

an elastomeric mounting block mounted on said frame member;

a guide rod having an upper end attached to said elastomeric mounting block and a lower end extending from said mounting block, said guide rod being of a length sufficient to engage the side walls of a trench, said lower end capable of flexing both axially and transversely; and

a conduit including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet adapted to be connected to a supply of treating additive, said conduit attached to said guide rod for movement therewith such that said outlet is positioned for applying treating additive within the trench.

2. A mounting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conduit includes a hose secured to and spaced upwardly from said lower end of said guide rod.

3. A mounting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said elastomeric mounting block is rubber.

4. A mounting arrangement for an agricultural additive dispensing conduit adapted to dispense an agricultural additive into a trench, said mounting arrangement including:

an elastomeric mounting block adapted to be connected to a frame member;

a guide rod having an upper end connected to said elastomeric mounting block and a lower end extending from said mounting block so as to permit movement of said lower end of said guide rod from side to side and from front to rear; and

an agricultural additive dispensing conduit connected to said guide rod for movement therewith, said conduit defining an aperture at one end thereof for dispensing an agricultural additive into a trench, said conduit adapted to be connected to a supply of agricultural additive to be dispensed,

whereby said guide rod is positioned so as to extend into the trench and said elastomeric mounting block allows for movement of said guide rod to conform to the contour of the trench, thereby positioning said aperture of said conduit so as to deposit the agricultural additive directly into the trench.

5. A mounting arrangement in accordance with claim 4 including a first central axis of said guide rod and a first central axis of said dispensing conduit and means for connecting said dispensing conduit to said guide rod such that said central axis of said guide rod and said central axis of said dispensing conduit are substantially aligned.

6. A mounting arrangement in accordance with claim 4 wherein said mounting block is rubber.

7. A mounting arrangement in accordance with claim 4 including means for connecting said elastomeric mounting block to a movable frame member.

8. An agricultural implement including:

a frame member having a first end and a second end, said frame member adapted to be attached to a vehicle for movement over soil;

a coulter disc connected to said frame member and mounted for rotation about an axis, said disc operative for tilling engagement with the soil over which said frame member is moved to form a trench therein;

an elastomeric joint member connected to said frame member;

a guide rod having an upper end attached to said elastomeric joint member and a lower end disposed behind and aligned with said coulter disc, said lower end extending from said joint member, said guide rod being of a length sufficient to engage the side walls of the trench, said lower end of said guide rod adapted to flex both axially and transversely with the contour of the soil over which said frame member is passing and said coulter disc is engaging; and

an agricultural additive dispensing conduit secured to said guide rod, said conduit including a first end adapted to be connected to a source of agricultural additive and a second end defining an aperture for dispensing an agricultural additive,

said agricultural implement operative such that, when said coulter disc engages and tills the soil, forming the trench, said guide rod is positioned so as to extend into the trench and to engage the side walls of the trench and said elastomeric joint member allows for movement of said guide rod both side to side and front to rear to conform to the contour of the soil, thereby positioning said aperture of said conduit so as to dispense the agricultural additive directly into the trench.