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US 4,302,904 AGranted
Agricultural applicator apparatus
AssigneeNixdorff Krein Industries, Inc.
InventorHarold C. Mead
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNixdorff Krein Industries, Inc.
InventorHarold C. Mead
Estimating the term…
Apparatus selectively applies a sprayable treatment liquid to target vegetation. The apparatus is configured for being carried by an agricultural implement, as at the rear of a tractor, and includes support structure including a boom extending across several rows of vegetation. A plurality of wig-like applicators of flexible, absorbent textile material are carried in selectedly positionable relationship from the support structure. The applicators are adapted for physically contacting target vegetation, being positionable with respect to the individual rows. The applicators are carried in such manner that they open forwardly for receiving and partly surrounding target vegetation in the rows and for subsequently contacting foliage of the target vegetation as the tractor travels along the rows. Foliage parting aprons are optionally utilized with the applicators, being carried in front of a respective applicator for parting foliage of the target vegetation before the same is contacted by the applicator. Spray nozzles direct the treatment liquid toward each applicator for application to the foliage. The apparatus may be used to apply the liquid either to vegetation growing above a crop, as to pest vegetation, or directly to and inside the foliage of crop vegetation.
Apparatus for selectively applying an agricultural treatment liquid to target vegetation comprising a structure adapted for being carried by an agricultural implement, a plurality of applicators of flexible textile material, said applicators each comprising a wig of absorbent textile material configured to provide a forwardly opening recess for receiving and at least partly surrounding foliage of said target vegetation and for contacting foliage of said target vegetation without damage, constituted by means for spraying said treatment liquid toward the foliage of target vegetation within said recess, and apron means associated with each said wig for parting foliage of said target vegetation as said target vegetation passes into said recess for spraying, said apron means comprising a further wig of textile material, means securing said applicators to said support structure in spaced relationship for contacting target vegetation in rows during travel of said implement along said rows, and means for providing a supply of said treatment liquid for application to said target vegetation.
Apparatus for selectively applying a treatment liquid to rows of vegetation comprising a structure being adapted for being carried by a vehicle along said rows, a plurality of applicators of absorbent textile material carried by said structure for contacting target vegetation in said rows during travel of said vehicle, means for wetting of said applicators of textile material with said treatment liquid means for directing a spray of said treatment liquid toward said applicators, said applicators of textile material being suspended in a recess-defining configuration for at least partly surrounding and subsequently contacting said target vegetation upon movement of said vehicle to apply said treatment liquid to surfaces of said target vegetation, and means for storing a supply of treatment liquid, said means for spraying said treatment liquid comprising a plurality of spray nozzles, pump means for pumping treatment liquid from said supply to provide a source of treatment liquid under pressure, selectively actuatable valve means for connecting said source of treatment liquid under pressure to said spray nozzles, and timer means for periodically actuating said valve means to intermittently cause said liquid under pressure to be sprayed by said nozzles for periodic spraying of said applicators for predetermined spray time intervals, said timer means being controllable for preselecting the periodicity of said periodic spraying.
Apparatus for selectively applying an agricultural treatment liquid to target vegetation comprising a structure adapted for being carried by an agricultural implement, a plurality of applicators of flexible textile material, means securing said applicators to said support structure in spaced relationship for contacting target vegetation in rows during travel of said implement along said rows, said support structure comprising at least one boom extending transversely across a plurality of spaced rows of vegetation, a plurality of carriers adjustably affixed to said boom and selectively slideable along said boom for selectively transversely positioning said wigs whereby said spaced relationship of said applicators corresponds to the spacing of said rows, and means for providing a supply of said treatment liquid for application to said target vegetation, said applicators each comprising a wig formed of a plurality of elements of absorbent textile material, said carriers each comprising an elongated support member, said textile elements hanging downwardly therefrom, each said support member being configured to cause the respective wig to define a forwardly opening recess for receiving foliage of said target vegetation for at least partly surrounding and subsequently contacting surfaces of said target vegetation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.