# US 11,432,460 B2 · Application units for placement of fluid applications to agricultural plants of a field

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- Number: US 11,432,460 B2
- Document ID: US11432460B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/094,148
- Filed: 2017-04-18
- Published: 2019-05-09
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-18
- Assignees: Precision Planting LLC
- Applicants: Precision Planting LLC
- Inventors: Jason Stoller; Ian Radtke; Paul Wildermuth; Matthew O'Neall
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432460B2

## CPC

- A01C 23/047: {Spraying of liquid fertilisers}
- A01B 49/06: for sowing or fertilising
- A01C 5/064: {with rotating tools}
- A01C 5/066: {Devices for covering drills or furrows}
- A01C 21/00: Methods of fertilising {, sowing or planting}
- A01C 21/002: {Apparatus for sowing fertiliser; Fertiliser drill}
- A01C 23/006: {Distribution of liquid fertilisers by gravity flow}
- A01C 23/007: {Metering or regulating systems}
- A01C 23/023: {for liquid or gas fertilisers}
- A01C 23/025: {Continuous injection tools}
- A01C 23/04: Distributing under pressure; Distributing mud; Adaptation of watering systems for fertilising-liquids
- A01M 7/00: Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
- A01M 7/0014: {Field atomisers, e.g. orchard atomisers, self-propelled, drawn or tractor-mounted}
- A01M 7/0042: {Field sprayers, e.g. self-propelled, drawn or tractor-mounted}
- A01M 7/005: {Special arrangements or adaptations of the spraying or distributing parts, e.g. adaptations or mounting of the spray booms, mounting of the nozzles, protection shields (nozzles, spray heads or other outlets B05B1/00; spray pistols B05B9/01)}
- A01M 7/006: {Mounting of the nozzles}
- A01M 7/0075: {including folding means}
- A01M 7/0089: {Regulating or controlling systems (the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06)}
- A01M 21/043: {by chemicals}
- B05B 1/1636: {by relative rotative movement of the valve elements (B05B1/1672 takes precedence)}
- B05B 1/20: Perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms; Outlet elements therefor
- A01B 79/005: {Precision agriculture}
- A01C 7/06: Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus
- A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00)
- A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21)
- A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)

## Abstract

Application units provide placement of fluid applications with respect to agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, an application unit includes a frame to be positioned in operation between two rows of plants and a plurality of flexible members coupled to the frame in operation such that the plurality of flexible members guide a lateral position of the frame to be approximately equidistant from the two rows of plants based upon whether at least one flexible member of the plurality of flexible members contacts one or more plants of the two rows of plants. The plurality of flexible members include a plurality of fluid outlets for spraying crop input in close proximity to the rows of plants.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An application unit comprising:
a frame to be positioned in operation between first and second rows of plants;
a first plant contacting member being pivotally connected to the frame in operation such that the first plant contacting member to be deflected rearwardly with respect to a direction of motion of the frame upon the first plant contacting member contacting at least one of the plants of the first row of plants which causes a first change in orientation of the first plant contacting member with respect to the frame;
a first outlet being disposed to apply a fluid application to the first row of plants with the first outlet being mechanically linked to the first plant contacting member, wherein the first change in orientation of the first plant contacting member with respect to the frame causes a corresponding second change in orientation of the first outlet with respect to the frame due to the first outlet being mechanically linked to the first plant contacting member; and
wherein the first plant contacting member is connected to the first outlet by a rigid link, wherein the rigid link constrains the first outlet to pivot in a synchronized fashion with the first plant contacting member, wherein a pivot axis of the first outlet is parallel to and substantially aligned with a pivot axis of the first plant contacting member, wherein the first outlet is pivotally connected to the frame to pivot with respect to the frame, wherein the first outlet is disposed to apply the fluid application to a base region of a plant of the first row of plants.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The application unit of claim 1, further comprising:
a second plant contacting member being pivotally coupled to the frame in operation such that the second plant contacting member to be deflected rearwardly with respect to the direction of motion of the frame upon the second plant contacting member contacting at least one of the plants of the second row of plants which causes a third change in orientation of the second plant contacting member with respect to the frame; and
a second outlet for applying a fluid application to the second row of plants with the second outlet being mechanically linked to the second plant contacting member, wherein the third change in orientation causes a corresponding fourth change in orientation of the second outlet with respect to the frame.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The application unit of claim 1, wherein the first plant contacting member is disposed above the first outlet.