Method and apparatus for the application of fluid to soil or plants

• US 6,959,655 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leslie R. Gibson
• Original Assignee: Leslie R. Gibson
• Inventors: Gibson, Leslie R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US10/216,460
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 111/123, 111/124, 111/125, 111/118, 111/119, 111/200
• US Class Current: 111/118
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 13/08 for working subsoil
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 17/00 Ploughs with special additional arrangements, e.g. means for putting manure under the soil, clod-crushers A01B49/00 takes precedence; Means for breaking the subsoil
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/047 Spraying of liquid fertilisers

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus for the application of fluid to soil and/or plants. A cutting blade for the soil preferably goes to depths of at least 12 inches. A nozzle/spray system is provided to the cutting blade to provide fluid during cutting of the soil. The nozzle may be protected by a shield, or recessed into the blade for protection. The primary application is the eradication of dense tree and brush species, by cutting the soil and applying an herbicide below the root crown level, in a single step.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cutting plants and cutting through soil and for applying fluids to plants or soil, said apparatus comprising:

at least two spaced-apart shanks;

a root cutting blade member, said blade member disposed at an end of each said shank, sufficient for cutting roots, at approximately 12 inches or more below ground level, of dense tree and woody brush plant species having root zones of at least approximately 12 inches below ground surface while allowing shallow-rooted native plants located above the roots to survive and cutting through soil to a depth of at least 12 inches;

at least one nozzle;

a fluid supply source; and

a line connecting said fluid supply source to said nozzle, said nozzle system releasing the fluid during operation of said blade member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a coulter disposed forward of each said shank.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one nozzle comprises at least one nozzle disposed within said blade member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one nozzle is disposed in a forward direction of said blade direction of travel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one nozzle is disposed in a rearward direction of said blade direction of travel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one shield disposed near said nozzle for protecting said nozzle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said blade member comprises at least one chisel point.

8. An apparatus for cutting plants and cutting through soil and applying fluid to plants or soil, said apparatus comprising:

at least two spaced-apart shanks;

a root cutting blade member disposed at an end of each said shank and comprising a cutting edge sufficient for cutting roots of dense tree and woody brush plant species having root zones of at least approximately 12 inches below ground surface while allowing shallow-rooted native plants located above the roots to survive;

at least one nozzle disposed in a forward direction of said cutting edge;

a fluid supply source; and

a line connecting said fluid supply source to said nozzle, said nozzle releasing the fluid during operation of said blade member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said nozzle is recessed within said blade member.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising at lease one shield disposed near said nozzle system for protecting said nozzle.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a sensor and control system.