Rotary fertilizer applicator

Abstract

An applicator for applying dry fertilizer or livestock waste in the form of a slurry beneath the soil surface with minimum soil displacement includes a leading spring-cushioned, conical-shaped, wavy coulter angularly offset from the direction of travel which displaces soil laterally in forming a furrow adapted to receive fertilizer. The coulter is trailed by a single, or a pair of, rotary blade(s) which fill the furrow, covering the deposited fertilizer. A second embodiment includes a second wavy coulter disposed between the leading coulter and the trailing rotary blades for directing soil in a laterally opposed direction from the soil displaced by the leading coulter in forming a wider furrow. The single conical coulter and dual conical coulter embodiments are easily interchangeable in the applicator, and are easily removed and replaced with a curved shank and sweep assembly to convert to sweep fertilizer application.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An applicator attached to a support frame for depositing fertilizer beneath the soil surface with minimum soil displacement, said applicator comprising:
 a spring-cushioned, conical-shaped, wavy coulter pivotally attached to the support frame to allow said coulter to swivel relative to the direction of travel of the applicator, wherein a forward portion of said coulter is closely aligned with the direction of travel of the applicator and an aft portion of said coulter is angularly offset from the applicator's direction of travel and displaces the soil laterally relative to the applicator's direction of travel in forming a furrow in the soil;   discharge means disposed aft of and in alignment with said coulter for depositing fertilizer in said furrow; and   closing means disposed aft of and in line with said fertilizer discharge means for deflecting soil over said furrow to cover the fertilizer deposited in said furrow with loose soil.   
     
     
         2 . The slurry fertilizer applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said fertilizer applicator includes a first forward portion of said support frame coupled to and supporting said coulter and a second aft portion of said support frame coupled to and supporting said discharge means and said closing means, wherein said second aft frame portion is pivotally coupled to said first forward frame portion allowing said second aft frame portion and said closing means to deflect upwardly relative to said first forward frame portion upon impact of said closing means with an obstruction in the soil. 
     
     
         3 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 2  further comprising a curvilinear pivoting shank having a forward end pivotally coupled to said first forward frame portion and an aft portion coupled to the second aft portion of said support frame to allow said second aft frame to move vertically relative to said first forward frame. 
     
     
         4 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the second aft portion of said support frame includes first resilient biasing means for urging said closing means downwardly into engagement with the soil, while allowing said closing means to pivot upwardly upon engagement with an obstruction in the soil. 
     
     
         5 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 4 , wherein said first forward portion of said support frame includes second resilient biasing means for urging said coulter downwardly into engagement with the soil. 
     
     
         6 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 2  further comprising first adjustable means coupling said coulter to said first forward frame portion for allowing the running depth of said coulter in the soil to be adjusted upward or downward, as desired. 
     
     
         7 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 1  further comprising a mounting arrangement for securely attaching said support frame to a tool bar of an agricultural implement. 
     
     
         8 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 2  further comprising a mounting arrangement for securely attaching said first forward frame portion of said support frame to a tool bar of an agricultural implement. 
     
     
         9 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said discharge means for depositing fertilizer includes a delivery hose disposed aft of said coulter. 
     
     
         10 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said closing means includes at least one furrow closing blade disposed aft of and laterally spaced from said coulter. 
     
     
         11 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one furrow closing blade is generally flat and circular and is oriented at an acute angle relative to the direction of travel of the fertilizer applicator. 
     
     
         12 . The fertilizer application of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one furrow closing blade is spherical and is oriented at an acute angle relative to the direction of travel of the fertilizer applicator. 
     
     
         13 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the closing means includes first and second furrow closing blades laterally spaced from one another and disposed aft of said coulter. 
     
     
         14 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second furrow closing blades are spaced approximately  12  inches apart. 
     
     
         15 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second furrow closing blades are coupled to said support frame by means of a pivoting frame member to allow said furrow closing blades to follow the contour of the soil. 
     
     
         16 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 15  further comprising biasing means coupled between said support frame and said first and second furrow closing blades for urging said furrow closing blades downward into engagement with the soil. 
     
     
         17 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 3  further comprising a first forward bolt coupling a forward end of said pivoting shank to an intermediate portion of said first forward frame portion, and second and third bolts respectively coupling an intermediate portion of said pivoting shank to an aft portion of said first forward frame portion, wherein loosening of said second and third bolts and removal of said first bolt permits separation of said second aft frame portion from said first forward frame portion. 
     
     
         18 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 17 , wherein said first forward frame portion is adapted to receive in combination a curvilinear shank and a sweep attached thereto in place of said second aft frame portion and said closing means. 
     
     
         19 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said coulter includes a flat center portion and plural alternating crests and valleys extending conically from said flat center portion to the outer periphery of said coulter. 
     
     
         20 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer is in liquid or dry form. 
     
     
         21 . An applicator attached to a support frame for depositing fertilizer beneath the soil surface with minimum soil displacement, said applicator comprising:
 a first leading spring-cushioned, conical shaped, wavy coulter pivotally attached to the support frame to allow said first coulter to swivel relative to the direction of travel of the applicator;   a second trailing spring-cushioned, conical shaped, wavy coulter pivotally attached to the support frame to allow said second coulter to swivel relative to the direction of travel of the applicator and disposed in alignment with, and aft of, said first coulter, wherein respective forward portions of said first and second coulters are closely aligned with the direction of travel of the applicator and respective aft portions of said first and second coulters are angularly offset from the applicator's direction of travel and displace the soil laterally in first and second respective opposed directions relative to the applicator's direction of travel in forming a furrow in the soil;   discharge means disposed aft of and in alignment with said first and second coulters for depositing fertilizer in said furrow; and   closing means disposed after of and in line with said fertilizer discharge means for deflecting soil over said furrow to cover the fertilizer deposited in said furrow with loose soil.   
     
     
         22 . The slurry fertilizer applicator of  claim 21 , wherein said fertilizer applicator includes a first forward portion of said support frame coupled to and supporting said first coulter and a second aft portion of said support frame coupled to said first forward frame portion and further coupled to and supporting said second coulter, said discharge means and said closing means, wherein said second aft frame portion is pivotally coupled to said first forward frame portion allowing said second aft frame portion to deflect upwardly relative to said first forward frame portion upon impact of said second coulter or said furrow closing means with an obstruction in the soil. 
     
     
         23 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 22  further comprising a pivoting shank having a forward end pivotally coupled to said first forward frame portion and an aft end pivotally coupled to an intermediate portion of said second aft frame portion to allow said second aft frame portion to move vertically relative to said first forward frame portion. 
     
     
         24 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 22  further comprising a spring-cushioned assembly coupling said first coulter to said first forward frame portion for urging said first coulter downward into engagement with the soil, while allowing said first coulter to deflect upward upon impact with an obstruction in the soil. 
     
     
         25 . The slurry fertilizer applicator of  claim 22  further comprising first adjustable means coupling said first coulter to said first forward frame portion for allowing the running depth of said first coulter in the soil to be adjusted upward or downward, as desired. 
     
     
         26 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 21  wherein said first wavy coulter is positioned at the same depth or at a lesser depth than that of said second wavy coulter. 
     
     
         27 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 21  further comprising a mounting arrangement for securely attaching said support frame to a tool bar of an agricultural implement. 
     
     
         28 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 22  further comprising a mounting arrangement for securely attaching said first forward frame portion of said support frame to a tool bar of an agricultural implement. 
     
     
         29 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 22  further comprising second adjustable means coupling said second coulter to said second aft frame portion for allowing the running depth of said second coulter in the soil to be adjusted upward or downward, as desired. 
     
     
         30 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 22 , wherein said second coulter includes a center hub rotationally coupled to a first support arm extending from said second aft frame portion. 
     
     
         31 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 30  further comprising a second support arm having a forward end coupled to an aft end of said first support arm adjacent the hub of said second coulter, and an aft end coupled to and supporting said fertilizer discharge means. 
     
     
         32 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 21 , wherein said discharge means for depositing fertilizer includes a delivery hose disposed aft of said second coulter. 
     
     
         33 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 21 , wherein said closing means includes at least one furrow closing blade disposed aft of and laterally spaced from said second coulter. 
     
     
         34 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 21 , wherein said closing means includes first and second furrow closing blades disposed aft of and laterally spaced from said second coulter. 
     
     
         35 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 34 , wherein said first and second furrow closing blades are spaced approximately  12  inches apart. 
     
     
         36 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 35 , wherein said first and second furrow closing blades are oriented at an acute angle relative to the direction of travel of the fertilizer applicator. 
     
     
         37 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 35 , wherein said first and second furrow closing blades are coupled to said support frame by means of a pivoting frame member to allow said furrow closing blades to follow the contour of the soil. 
     
     
         38 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 35  further comprising angular adjustment means coupling said first and said second closing blades to said support frame for allowing for angular adjustment of said closing blades relative to the direction of travel of the fertilizer applicator. 
     
     
         39 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 35  further comprising biasing means coupled between said support frame and said first and second furrow closing blades for urging said furrow closing blades downward into engagement with the soil. 
     
     
         40 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 22  further comprising a first forward bolt coupling a forward end of said pivoting shank to an intermediate portion of said first forward frame portion, and second and third bolts respectively coupling an intermediate portion of said pivoting shank to an aft portion of said first forward frame portion, wherein removal of said first bolt and loosening of said second and third bolts permits decoupling of said second aft frame portion from said first forward frame portion. 
     
     
         41 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 40 , wherein said first forward frame portion is adapted to receive in combination a curvilinear shank and a sweep attached to said shank following decoupling of said first and second frame portions in replacing said second aft frame portion, said second coulter, said discharge means and said closing means attached thereto. 
     
     
         42 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 21 , wherein each of said first and second coulters has a conical shape and includes a respective flat center portion and plural alternating crests and valleys extending from said flat center portion to the outer periphery of each of said first and second coulters. 
     
     
         43 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 21 , wherein the fertilizer is in liquid or dry form. 
     
     
         44 . An applicator attached to a support frame for depositing fertilizer beneath the soil surface with minimum soil displacement, said applicator comprising:
 a spring-cushioned, conical-shaped, wavy coulter pivotally attached to the support frame to allow said coulter to swivel relative to the direction of travel of the applicator, wherein a forward portion of said coulter is closely aligned with the direction of travel of the applicator and an aft portion of said coulter is angularly offset from the applicator's direction of travel and displaces the soil laterally relative to the applicator's direction of travel in forming a furrow in the soil;   a sweep shank attached to the support frame and extending rearwardly and downwardly and having first and second opposed ends, wherein said first end is attached to the support frame and said second end is disposed adjacent the soil surface and is aligned with said coulter along a direction of travel of the support frame;   a sweep attached to the second end of said sweep shank and disposed aft of said coulter in said furrow, said sweep having left and right side wings extending substantially horizontally for respectively forming left and right lateral extensions in a lower portion of the furrow; and   a delivery tube attached to said sweep shank and disposed aft of said sweep for depositing fertilizer in the furrow.   
     
     
         45 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 44  further comprising a first spring-cushioned assembly coupling a forward portion of said sweep shank to said support frame for allowing said sweep to move upwardly upon impact of said sweep with an obstruction in the soil. 
     
     
         46 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 44  further comprising a second spring-cushioned assembly coupling said coulter to said support frame for urging said coulter downward into engagement with the soil, while allowing said coulter to deflect upward upon impact with an obstruction in the soil. 
     
     
         47 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 44  further comprising first adjustable means coupling said coulter to said support frame for allowing the running depth of said coulter in the soil to be adjusted upward or downward, as desired. 
     
     
         48 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 44  further comprising a first forward bolt coupling a forward end of said sweep shank to an intermediate portion of said support frame, and second and third bolts respectively coupling an intermediate portion of said sweep shank to an aft portion of said support frame, wherein removal of said first bolt and loosening of said second and third bolts allows for removal of said sweep shank from the support frame. 
     
     
         49 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 44 , wherein said coulter has a conical shape and includes a flat center hub portion and plural alternating crests and valleys extending from said flat center hub portion to the outer periphery of said coulter. 
     
     
         50 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 44  further comprising a mounting arrangement for securely attaching said support frame to the tool bar of an agricultural implement. 
     
     
         51 . The fertilizer applicator of  claim 44 , wherein the fertilizer is in liquid or dry form.