Fertilizer tube system

• US 9,642,301 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2016
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Totally Tubular Mfg., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Totally Tubular Mfg., Inc.
• Inventors: Wiesenburger, Brent W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US15/095,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20160295795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/025 Continuous injection tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/062 Devices for making drills or furrows
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus

Abstract

A fertilizer tube system for efficiently dispensing and placing fertilizer within a furrow to minimize germination injury. The fertilizer tube system generally includes a fertilizer tube having an input opening at an upper end of the fertilizer tube and an output opening at a lower end of the fertilizer tube, an upper connector attached to an upper portion of the fertilizer tube, a central connector attached to a central portion of the fertilizer tube and a lower connector attached to a lower portion of the fertilizer tube.

Claims

1. A fertilizer tube system for attachment to a planter implement, comprising:

a fertilizer tube having an input opening at an upper end of the fertilizer tube and an output opening at a lower end of the fertilizer tube, wherein the input opening is capable of being fluidly connected to a liquid fertilizer system to receive a liquid fertilizer from the liquid fertilizer system and wherein the output opening dispenses the liquid fertilizer into a seed furrow;

an upper connector attached to an upper portion of the fertilizer tube, wherein the upper connector is adapted for connecting to an upper fastener of a planter frame;

a lower connector attached to a lower portion of the fertilizer tube, wherein the lower connector is adapted for connecting to a lower portion of a planter shank; and

an intermediate connector attached to the fertilizer tube between the upper connector and the lower connector, wherein the intermediate connector is adapted for connecting to an axle of the planter shank.

2. The fertilizer tube system of claim 1, wherein the lower connector is comprised of a bendable material.

3. The fertilizer tube system of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer tube is comprised of a continuous single structure.

4. The fertilizer tube system of claim 3, wherein the fertilizer tube is comprised of a rigid material.

5. The fertilizer tube system of claim 4, wherein the fertilizer tube is comprised of a metal.

6. The fertilizer tube system of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer tube has a circular cross sectional area.

7. The fertilizer tube system of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer tube is comprised of a first segment adapted to be positioned adjacent to a front edge of the planter shank and a second segment extending forwardly from the first segment, wherein the first segment has a first angle with respect to a horizontal plane and wherein the second segment has a second angle with respect to the horizontal plane, and wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle.

8. The fertilizer tube system of claim 7, wherein the output opening is within a lower distal end of the first segment, and wherein the first segment is comprised of a substantially straight structure.

9. The fertilizer tube system of claim 7, wherein the fertilizer tube is comprised of a third segment and a fourth segment, wherein the third segment extends upwardly and rearwardly from the second segment, wherein the first segment and the second segment are aligned along a common vertical plane, and wherein the fourth segment extends upwardly from the third segment.

10. The fertilizer tube system of claim 9, wherein the third segment and the fourth segment are each comprised of a substantially straight structure.

11. The fertilizer tube system of claim 9, wherein the fourth segment extends rearwardly.

12. The fertilizer tube system of claim 11, wherein the third segment and the fourth segment both extend rearwardly at an approximately same angle with respect to the horizontal plane.

13. The fertilizer tube system of claim 9, wherein the third segment is not aligned along the common vertical plane.

14. The fertilizer tube system of claim 13, wherein the third segment extends to the right of the common vertical plane.

15. The fertilizer tube system of claim 14, wherein the fourth segment extends at angle between the common vertical plane and the third segment.

16. The fertilizer tube system of claim 1, wherein the upper connector is comprised of an inner portion, an outer portion and an aperture within the outer portion.

17. The fertilizer tube system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate connector extends rearwardly in a substantially horizontal manner.

18. The fertilizer tube system of claim 17, wherein the intermediate connector is comprised of an inner portion extending rearwardly, a middle portion extending rearwardly from the inner portion of the intermediate connector at an angle, an outer portion extending rearwardly from the middle portion of the intermediate connector substantially parallel with respect to the inner portion of the intermediate connector, and an aperture within the outer portion.

19. A fertilizer tube system for attachment to a planter implement, comprising:

a fertilizer tube having an input opening at an upper end of the fertilizer tube and an output opening at a lower end of the fertilizer tube, wherein the input opening is capable of being fluidly connected to a liquid fertilizer system to receive a liquid fertilizer from the liquid fertilizer system and wherein the output opening dispenses the liquid fertilizer into a seed furrow;

an upper connector attached to an upper portion of the fertilizer tube, wherein the upper connector is adapted for connecting to an upper fastener of a planter frame;

a lower connector attached to a lower portion of the fertilizer tube, wherein the lower connector is adapted for connecting to a lower portion of a planter shank; and

an intermediate connector attached to the fertilizer tube between the upper connector and the lower connector, wherein the intermediate connector is adapted for connecting to an axle of the planter shank;

wherein the lower connector is comprised of a bendable material; and

wherein the lower connector is comprised of a substantially V-shaped structure or U-shaped structure adapted to be positioned about a front edge of the planter shank.

20. A fertilizer tube system for attachment to a planter implement, comprising:

a fertilizer tube having an input opening at an upper end of the fertilizer tube and an output opening at a lower end of the fertilizer tube, wherein the input opening is capable of being fluidly connected to a liquid fertilizer system to receive a liquid fertilizer from the liquid fertilizer system and wherein the output opening dispenses the liquid fertilizer into a seed furrow;

an upper connector attached to an upper portion of the fertilizer tube, wherein the upper connector is adapted for connecting to an upper fastener of a planter frame;

a lower connector attached to a lower portion of the fertilizer tube, wherein the lower connector is adapted for connecting to a lower portion of a planter shank;

wherein the lower connector is comprised of a bendable material, and wherein the lower connector is comprised of a substantially V-shaped structure or U-shaped structure adapted to be positioned about a front edge of the planter shank; and

an intermediate connector attached to the fertilizer tube between the upper connector and the lower connector, wherein the intermediate connector is adapted for connecting to an axle of the planter shank;

wherein the fertilizer tube is comprised of a first segment adapted to be positioned adjacent to a front edge of the planter shank and a second segment extending forwardly from the first segment, wherein the first segment has a first angle with respect to a horizontal plane and wherein the second segment has a second angle with respect to the horizontal plane, and wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle;

wherein the output opening is within a lower distal end of the first segment, and wherein the first segment is comprised of a substantially straight structure;

wherein the fertilizer tube is comprised of a third segment and a fourth segment, wherein the third segment extends upwardly and rearwardly from the second segment, wherein the first segment and the second segment are aligned along a common vertical plane, and wherein the fourth segment extends upwardly from the third segment;

wherein the third segment and the fourth segment are each comprised of a substantially straight structure.