US 5,101,745 AGranted

Method and apparatus for soil cultivation by high pressure injection of fluids

AssigneeThe Toro Company

InventorsDean A. Podevels, Robert C. Comer, Dana R. Lonn, David J. Scherbring, John M. Beattie, Charles C. Holley, Michael T. Schmidt

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Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclcosed for cultivating soil and turf by utilization of pressurized liquid injected into the soil and turf. A roller assembly (33) is provided for applying mechanical pressure to the turf after cultivation. Further, a means for setting a first speed in a transport mode and a second speed in a cultivating mode is provided. The apparatus is designed to be bidirectional to allow the apparatus to be used in both a forward and reverse direction. The flow of the pressurized liquid is controlled to be at intervals of from about 0.010 to 0.065 seconds and at pressures from about 2,300 psi to about 5,500 psi through nozzles having diameters of from about 0.033 to about 0.090 inches. The apparatus (10) utilizes a water hammer effect to effect the flow of pressurized liquid out of the nozzles 55 and has found a relationship in the pressure and pounds per square inch of the cross-sectional area of the bore of the manifold to the accumulated area of the output ports of the nozzles.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An apparatus for cultivating turf by hydraulic action, comprising:

(a) a frame;
(b) means operatively connected to said frame for propelling said apparatus over the turf to be cultivated;
(c) a plurality of fluid nozzles operatively connected to said frame, each of said nozzles having inlet and outlet ports, each of said nozzle outlet ports having a cross-sectional area and said nozzle outlet ports having a diameter of from about 0.033 to about 0.090 inch;
(d) means for pressurizing liquid operatively connected to said frame, said nozzles in fluid communication with said pressurizing means, said pressurizing means, having suitable flow on and flow off duration times, providing a flow of liquid from about 2,300 psi to about 5,500 psi;
(e) means for providing a source of liquid to be in fluid communication with said pressurizing means;
(f) means for controlling flow of the liquid from said pressurizing means to said inlet ports, whereby the liquid exits said outlet ports at a pressure sufficient to cause the liquid to penetrate the turf and create cultivation holes;
(g) a manifold having an elongate bore, said manifold having an inlet in fluid communication with said pressurizing means and said nozzles in fluid communication with said bore;
and
(h) the cross-sectional area of the bore is sized in relationship to the pressure and an accumulation of the cross-sectional area of the nozzle outlet ports, wherein a water hammer effect is created which is sufficient to effect the flow of liquid out of the nozzles more in the order of a square wave pulse and the water hammer effect is not enough to destroy the manifold, wherein the relationship of the pressure in pounds per square inch, cross-sectional area of the bore (A.sub.B) and the accumulated area of the outlet ports of the nozzles (A.sub.N) is given by the following:
A.sub.B =(K) A.sub.N).sqroot.P
wherein the constant K is between 0.2 to 1.4.

8 more elements

An apparatus for cultivating turf and soil by hydraulic action, comprising:

(a) a frame;
(b) means operatively connected to said frame for propelling said apparatus over the turf and soil to be cultivated;
(c) a plurality of fluid nozzles operatively connected to said frame, each of said nozzles having input and output ports;
(d) means for providing pressurizing liquid operatively connected to said frame, said nozzles in fluid communication with said pressurizing means;
(e) means for providing a source of liquid to be in fluid communication with said pressurizing means;
(f) means for controlling flow of the liquid from said pressurizing means to said inlet ports, whereby the liquid exits said outlet ports at a pressure sufficient to cause the liquid to penetrate the turf and subsoil and create cultivation holes;
and
(g) means for setting a first speed when said apparatus is in a transport mode and setting a second speed when said apparatus is in a cultivating mode, said setting means comprises:
(i) a traction control bar operatively connected to and for moving a pump control arm;
(ii) said pump control arm having a first end operatively connected to a pump and a second end;
(iii) a stop plate for selective engagement of said second end of said pump control arm;
and
(iv) means for allowing movement of said stop plate between a first position and a second position, said movement allowing means being responsive to changes between the transport mode and the cultivating mode, wherein when in the cultivating mode, the stop plate limits movement of the pump control arm and when in the transport mode, the stop plate allows additional movement of the pump control arm, thereby allowing a greater speed in the transport mode.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.