Slurry applicator for an agriculture machine

• US 8,550,019 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VTI LLC
• Original Assignee: VTI LLC
• Inventors: Reed, Phillip E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US13/113,610
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 111120-122, 111/149, 111157-169, 111190-196, 172/518, 172540-576, 172579-604
• US Class Current: 111/119
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 15/18 Coulters
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 61/04 of the connection between tools and carrier beam or frame
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/002 Apparatus for sowing fertiliser; Fertiliser drill
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/021 Sludge injectors, i.e. liquid manure injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/025 Continuous injection tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/066 Devices for covering drills or furrows

Abstract

A method is provided for depositing slurry into a ground surface for plant nutrition. A trough is cut in the ground surface by a rotating member. The rotating member acts by displacing soil upward with respect to the ground surface and rearwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the rotating member. While the soil is in the air, slurry is deposited into the trough. The soil is then redirected downward to the trough to cover the slurry with the soil. The rotating member may be a coulter blade that has a plurality of flutes formed on a first and a second side of the blade. The flutes have a leading edge that enters the ground substantially perpendicular with respect to the ground and exits at an angle to eject soil upward and outward.

Claims

1. A method for depositing slurry into a ground surface, the method comprising:

cutting a trough in the ground surface soil with a rotating member;

displacing a majority the soil from the trough upwardly and airborne with respect to the ground surface and rearwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the rotating member;

depositing the slurry in the trough while the soil is in an upward and airborne position with respect to the ground surface; and

directing the soil downward into the trough after the slurry has been deposited therein to cover the slurry with the soil.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the rotating member is a coulter blade with a plurality of angled flutes to open the trough with minimal compression of a side of the trough to allow for maximum absorption of the slurry.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the angled flutes of the coulter blade exits the trough at an angle with respect to the ground surface to eject the soil from the trough upwardly.

4. The method of claim 3, and further comprising applying a downward vertical force on an axis of rotation for the coulter blade to keep the coulter blade at a substantially consistent depth with respect to the ground surface.

5. The method of claim 4, and further comprising controlling the depth of the trough with a spool positioned on the axis of rotation of the coulter blade to resist downward vertical pressure to keep the depth of the trough substantially consistent.

6. The method of claim 5, and further comprising providing for upward movement of the coulter blade in the event the coulter blade engages an object in the ground.

7. The method of claim 6, and further comprising providing substantially consistent coverage of the slurry that is in the trough while depositing of the slurry is conducted at a speed in a range of three to fifteen miles per hour with respect to the ground surface.

8. The method of claim 7, depositing more than six thousand gallons of slurry per acre in the trough with substantially minimal runoff.

9. The method of claim 1, and further comprising directing simultaneously the soil that is airborne on each side of the trough downward into the trough after the slurry has been deposited therein to cover the slurry with the soil.