US 4,521,988 A · Self aligning crop spraying apparatus

Abstract

Self aligning sled apparatus for spraying herbicide to the ground surface of the top of the crop row and under the low growing foliage of row crops. Alignment of the plurality of shield sled apparatus is accomplished by the trunks of the crop plants guiding the shield sleds spaning the furrow between rows. Each of the plurality of shield sleds is attached by parallel linkages to a horizontal tool bar secured to the self-propelled sprayer or tractor. The connecting parallel linkages allow each sled to move vertically, horizontally, and rotationally as needed independent of the tractor and of the other shield sleds. As the apparatus moves forward, shields affixed to the shield sleds engage the low crop foliage and lift it upwards in order that spraying mechanism near the rear of each shield sled may apply herbicide to the ground and weeds under the crop foliage. At opposite sides of the plurality of shield sleds are provided a modified shield sled with one or more spring tensioned pivotable arms engaging adjacent plant rows in order to urge more complete engagement and raising of the leaves of the plants on the affected sides of each row.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Self aligning sled apparatus for spraying a chemical mixture to the ground surface proximate plant stems in a crop row comprising:

at least one sled adapted to be towed by a prime mover between two rows of crops, said sled defining a U-shaped bar adapted to ride on the ground surface between the crop rows and to be guided by engaging the plant stems in the crop rows on opposite sides;
a pair of angled shields attached to said U-shaped bar and adapted to engage a crop row's plant foilage and lift it upwards as the sled is towed;
a pair of parallel linkages attached between said sled U-shaped bar and prime mover permitting freedom of movement between said sled and the prime mover;
a modified sled adapted to be towed adjacent said sled having said U-shaped bar, said modified sled including a L-shaped bar adapted to ride on the ground surface proximate a crop row;
an angled shield attached to said L-shaped bar adapted to engage the crop row plant foilage and to raise the foilage as the sled is towed;
a spring loaded arm pivotally connected to said L-shaped bar, said spring loaded arm arcuate shaped and adapted to engage the stems of the crop row plants in an adjacent crop row where by such engagement, said L-shaped arm is urged against the stems of the plants in the crop row between the adjacent sled having the U-shaped bar, and
spraying apparatus attached to said angled shields of said U-shaped bar and said L-shaped bar, said spraying apparatus including spray nozzles oriented towards the ground proximate the crop row plant stems.

4 more elements

Self aligning sled apparatus for spraying a chemical mixture to the ground surface proximate plant stems in a crop row comprising:

at least one sled adapted to be towed by a prime mover between two rows of crops, said sled defining a U-shaped bar adapted to ride on the ground surface between the crop rows and to be guided by engaging the plant stems in the crop rows on opposite sides;
a pair of angled shields attached to said U-shaped bar and adapted to engage a crop row's plant foliage and lift it upwards as the sled is towed;
a modified sled adapted to be towed adjacent said sled having said U-shaped bar, said modified sled including a pair of L-shaped bars adapted to ride on the ground surface proximate the crop rows, said modified sled including at least one pivotal means operably attached to said L-shaped bars, said pivotal means adapted to allow said L-shaped bars to pivot one from another and thereby separate and to come together;
angled shields attached to each of said L-shaped bars and adapted to engage the crop row plant foilage and to raise the foilage as the sled is towed;
and
spraying apparatus attached to said angled shields of said U-shaped bar sled and said modified sled L-shaped bars, said spraying apparatus including spray nozzles oriented towards the ground proximate the crop plant stems.

3 more elements

Self aligning sled apparatus for spraying a chemical mixture to the ground surface proximate plant stems in a crop comprising:

at least one sled adapted to be towed by a prime mover between two rows of crops, said sled defining a U-shaped bar adapted to rid on the ground surface between the crop rows and to be guided by engaging the plant stems in the crop rows on opposite sides;
a pair of angled shields attached to said U-shaped bar and adapted to engage a crop row's plant foliage and lift it upwards as the sled is towed;
a modified sled adapted to be towed adjacent said sled apparatus having said U-shaped bar, said modified sled apparatus comprising:
a central elongated bar structure;
elongated side bars operably connected on both sides of said central elongated bar structure, said elongated side bars adapted to ride on the ground surface proximate the crop rows and to engage the stems of the plants of the crop rows and be guided thereby;
a pair of angled shields attached at one end to each of said elongated side bars, said angled shields rising upward and inward toward each other from said elongated side bars, said angled shields adapted to engage the crop plant foliage and raise the foliage;
and
spraying apparatus attached to at least one of said angled shields, said spraying apparatus receiving chemical for spraying the top surface of the crop row proximate the crop plant stems.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self aligning crop spraying apparatus

Life of this patent

Self aligning crop spraying apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16