Agricultural crop application system

Abstract

A product applicator system for dispensing various products onto a ground surface is provided. The system provides an assembly of a protective tube and applicator that protects the product as it travels from the boom to the ground surface. The assembly may include a swivel connection facilitating a rotational movement of the hose assembly to the supporting boom. The protective tube assembly is designed with bending properties that enable the applicator to self-center itself during use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lower applicator assembly, of an agricultural product application system having at least one upper product delivery tube with a long axis configured to hang from a boom, for dispersing a product on a ground surface, the lower applicator assembly comprising:
 at least one lower product delivery tube assembly to receive and direct product from the upper product delivery tube to the ground surface, wherein the at least one lower product delivery tube assembly forms an angle greater than 90 degrees with the long axis of the upper product delivery tube.   
     
     
         2 . The lower applicator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lower product delivery tube assembly comprises at least one generally rigid tube segment in operative communication with a portion of upper product delivery tube and at least one generally flexible tube segment in operative communication with the at least one generally rigid tube segment. 
     
     
         3 . The lower applicator assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one attachment member being attached to and extending between the upper product delivery tube and the at least one lower product delivery tube assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The lower applicator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lower product delivery tube assembly comprises at least two generally rigid tube segments, each in operative communication with the upper product delivery tube, wherein each of the at least two generally rigid tube segments diverge outwardly away from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The lower applicator assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one generally flexible tube segment being in operative communication with each of the at least two generally rigid tube segments. 
     
     
         6 . The lower applicator assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one generally rigid tube segment includes at least one curved portion along its length. 
     
     
         7 . The lower applicator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lower product delivery tube assembly is configured to drag along behind the boom and to form an angle with a plane of the ground surface. 
     
     
         8 . The lower applicator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the angle formed between the at least one upper product delivery tube and the at least one lower product delivery tube assembly orients the lower applicator assembly behind the boom. 
     
     
         9 . The lower applicator assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the angle formed between the at least one upper product delivery tube and the at least one lower product delivery tube assembly orients the lower applicator assembly behind the boom. 
     
     
         10 . A lower applicator assembly of an agricultural product application system coupled to a boom and having at least one hanging upper product delivery tube coupled to a product holding tank, the system being configured for dispersing the product on a ground surface, the lower applicator assembly comprising:
 at least a pair of divergently extending product delivery tubes in operative communication with the at least one hanging upper product delivery tube, each of the divergently extending product delivery tubes having at least one curve portion, wherein product traveling through the agricultural product application system travels through the at least one hanging upper product delivery tube and through the at least a pair of divergently extending product delivery tubes to be placed on the ground surface.   
     
     
         11 . The lower applicator of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the upper at least one product delivery tube has a bend to orient the lower applicator assembly behind the boom. 
     
     
         12 . The lower applicator of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one hanging upper product delivery tube extends angularly behind the boom. 
     
     
         13 . The lower applicator of  claim 10 , wherein the lower applicator assembly and the at least one hanging upper product delivery tube extend angularly behind the boom. 
     
     
         14 . The lower applicator of  claim 10 , wherein each of the divergently extending product delivery tubes comprises at least one generally rigid tube segment and at least one generally flexible tube segment in operative communication. 
     
     
         15 . The lower applicator of  claim 14 , wherein each of the at least one generally rigid tube segments has an S-shaped curve formed in a portion thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The lower applicator of  claim 14 , wherein an end portion of each of the at least one generally rigid tube segments extends in a direction generally away from a long axis of the agricultural product application system. 
     
     
         17 . The lower applicator assembly of  claim 10 , wherein an angle formed between the at least one lower product delivery tube assembly and the at least one hanging upper product delivery tube is greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The lower applicator assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the angle formed between the at least one hanging upper product delivery tube and the at least one lower product delivery tube assembly orients the lower applicator assembly behind the boom. 
     
     
         19 . The lower applicator assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the angle formed between the at least one upper product delivery tube and the at least one lower product delivery tube assembly orients the lower applicator assembly behind the boom. 
     
     
         20 . The lower applicator assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one lower product delivery tube assembly is configured to drag along behind the boom and to form an angle with a plane of the ground surface.