Apparatus and method for subsurface injection of agrochemicals
AssigneeCross Equipment Company, Inc.
InventorsHewis W. Cross, James C. Lewis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for injecting agrochemicals into the subsurface of the soil without tilling of the soil. A high pressure pump delivers the solution to be injected to a series of injection nozzles. The injection nozzles cause liquid jets to be formed which have sufficient velocity and narrow cross-section to inject into the soil. The injection nozzles are supported by a shield-pan which rides on the surface of the soil. The apparatus causes continuous injection from a plurality of nozzles. The shield-pan minimizes clogging of the nozzles. In the preferred embodiment, a second low pressure system is incorporated to broadcast spray the soil surface. This is a low-pressure system utilizing a boom with broadcast nozzles.
Claims23
An apparatus for subsurface soil injection of agrochemicals utilizing a high pressure delivery system from a field sprayer vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a liquid holding tank for supplying an agrochemical solution to be injected, said tank supported by said vehicle;
- (b) a pump means, having hose connection to said tank, for receiving and delivering the solution into said high pressure delivery system within the range of 1000 to 2200 psi;
- (c) an engine means for powering said pump;
- (d) a distribution manfold, having hose connection to said pump, to receive and distribute the solution to injection nozzles;
- (e) multiple injection nozzles to form liquid jets of the solution being delivered at high pressure, said jets having sufficient velocity and narrow cross-section to inject into subsurface of soil;
- (f) an injection nozzle assembly for positioning said nozzles in a generally downward direction, said assembly including a header with hose connection to said manifold and having plurality of injection nozzles;
- (g) a shield pan, semicircular in cross-section, for riding on surface of soil causing said injection nozzles to be positioned close to soil surface without making contact, said shield pan having multiple spray injection orifices on bottom;
- (h) a support frame attached to top of said shield pan, said nozzle assembly being attached to said frame such that said injection nozzles are aligned with injection orifices, whereby said liquid jets pass through said injection orifices into soil;
- where
- (i) said frame is attached at one end to said vehicle and at the other end to said shield pan, said frame having a spring-hinge means to cause soil surface contact of said shield pan for varying terrain.
An apparatus for mobile application of agrochemicals having two pressure systems, a low pressure system for broadcast spraying soil surface, and a high pressure system for subsurface injection, comprising:
- (a) a liquid holding tank for supplying an agrochemical solution to be applied to the soil, said tank supported by a field sprayer vehicle;
- (b) a high pressure pump having hose connection to said tank, for receiving and pressurizing the solution in said high pressure system within the range of 1000 to 2200 psi;
- (c) a low pressure pump, having hose connection to said tank, for receiving and delivering the solution in said low pressure system within the range of 20 to 60 psi;
- an engine means for powering said high pressure pump;
- an engine means for powering said low pressure pump;
- (f) a spray boom attached to said vehicle, having hose connection to said low pressure pump, said boom having multiple mist nozzles uniformly spaced for broadcast spraying soil surface transversely in the direction of vehicle movement;
- (g) a distribution manifold, having hose connection to said high pressure pump to receive and distribute the solution to injection nozzles at high pressure;
- (h) multiple injection nozzles to form liquid jets of the solution being delivered at high pressure, said jets having sufficient velocity and cross-section to inject into subsurface of soil;
- (i) an injection nozzle assembly for positioning said nozzles in a generally downward direction, said assembly having hose connection to said manifold and having header with at least one nozzle;
- (j) a shield pan, semicircular in cross-section, for riding on surface of soil causing said injection nozzles to be positioned close to soil surface without making contact, said shield pan having spray injection orifices on bottom in alignment with said liquid jets;
- (k) a frame attached to said shield pan, said nozzle assembly being attached to said frame such that said liquid jets are aligned with said injection orifices, whereby said liquid jets pass through said injection orifices into soil, and
- (l) a rotatable bar connected to said vehicle, one end of said frame being connected to said bar by spring-loaded connection means between said bar and said frame to urge the latter against the ground, other end of said frame being attached to said shield-pan assembly.
A method for applying agrochemicals from a liquid supply tank mounted on a moving field sprayer apparatus where a high pressure system injects the liquid into the soil, and a separate low pressure system broadcast the liquid onto the soil surface, comprising the steps of:
- (1) attaching an adjustable-delivery-rate, high pressure pump to said tank by hose connection;
- (2) causing said high pressure pump to withdraw the liquid from said tank and to deliver same into a high pressure delivery system at a pressure within the range of 1000 to 2200 psi;
- (3) monitoring pressure in said high pressure system, and adjusting pump delivery rate such as to maintain a preselected pressure;
- (4) feeding the pressurized liquid to a distribution manifold by a hose connection from said high pressure pump to said manifold;
- (5) distributing the pressurized liquid from said manifold to multiple injection nozzles moving with the vehicle, nozzles being placed generally perpendicular and in close proximity to the soil, nozzle orifice being such as to cause liquid to form liquid jets with sufficient velocity and narrow cross-section to inject into subsurface of the
- (6) attaching an adjustable-delivery-rate low pressure pump to said supply tank by hose connection;
- (7) causing said low pressure pump to withdraw the liquid from said tank and to deliver same into a low pressure delivery system at a pressure within the range of 20 to 60 psi;
- and
- (8) feeding the liquid at low pressure to a broadcast boom having multiple mist nozzles uniformly spaced for broadcast spraying of soil surface transversely in the direction of vehicle movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.