Back to results
US 5,769,169 AGranted
Soil irrigation and aeration apparatus
OwnerFrank J. Miksitzinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An irrigation and aeration device includes a drum having a plurality of probes for penetrating the ground and injecting water into the soil. The probes are made from stainless steel spring pins having an elongated slot and an open outer end. The drum includes a plurality of compartments for receiving water from a supply and a valve assembly for selectively dispensing the water to the compartments. The valve assembly can be actuated by a foot contacting the ground, a valve actuated by rotation of the drum, or a solenoid actuated valve.
Claims25
A soil irrigation and aeration device comprising:
- a rotatable ground engaging drum having an outer wall, an inner wall defining a central chamber and being spaced from said outer wall, and a plurality of compartments disposed between said inner and outer walls around a circumference of said drum, said compartments having a length substantially equal to a length of said drum;
- a plurality of probes extending radially outward from an outer surface of said drum, each of said probes having a cylindrical side wall defining a substantially tubular shape with a slot in said side wall extending longitudinally from a first inner end in communication with an interior of one of said compartments to a second open outer end, each of said probes having an open inner axial face and an open outer axial face;
- a water source connected to said central chamber in said drum;
- and
- a valve assembly and water connection coupled to each of said inner walls of said compartments for selectively supplying water under pressure from said central chamber and water source to said inner walls and compartments sequentially when said probes engage the ground, thereby injecting water to the probes engaging the ground.
2 more elements
A soil irrigation and aeration device comprising:
- a frame;
- a ground engaging drum rotatably mounted on said frame, said drum having an outer wall, an inner wall spaced from said outer wall and a plurality of compartments disposed circumferentially around said drum between said inner and outer walls, said compartments having a length substantially equal to a length of said drum;
- a water source for supplying water to each of said compartments;
- each of said compartments having a valve assembly and water connection coupled to said inner wall and connected to said water source for selectively supplying water to said compartments when each of said compartments are adjacent the ground;
- a plurality of probes extending radially outward from said outer wall of said drum, each of said probes having a substantially tubular shape with a slot extending along a side wall and extending longitudinally from a first open axial end in communication with one of said compartments to a second open axial outer end for penetrating the soil and injecting water into a cavity formed by said probes penetrating the soil.
2 more elements
A soil irrigation and aeration device comprising:
- a frame having a hollow, fixed first shaft mounted on said frame and coupled to a water supply, said first shaft having a plurality of holes extending radially through said shaft for dispensing water, each of said holes extending in a downward direction with respect to the ground and being spaced in a line extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of said first shaft;
- a ground engaging drum having a hollow centrally located second shaft rotatably mounted on said first shaft, said second shaft having a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart holes for cooperating with a respective hole in said first shaft, wherein said holes in said second shaft align with a cooperating hole in said first shaft during a predetermined angle of rotation of said second shaft with respect to said first shaft for dispensing water through said holes;
- said drum further including an outer wall and an inner wall spaced from said outer wall, a plurality of radial walls extending from said inner wall to said outer wall and defining a plurality of circumferentially disposed compartments, each of said compartments having a length substantially equal to a length of said drum, said inner wall having at least one aperture communicating with each of said compartments;
- a plurality of conduits, each conduit having a first end coupled to one of said apertures communicating with one of said compartments, and a second end coupled to one of said apertures in said second shaft for supplying water to said compartment;
- a plurality of first annular seals mounted around said first shaft, each of said first annular seals disposed on opposite sides of said holes in said first shaft, said first seals forming a substantially fluid tight seal between said first and second shafts;
- and
- a plurality of probes extending radially outward from an outer surface of said drum, said probes having a cylindrical side wall defining a substantially tubular shape with a slot in said side wall extending longitudinally from a first inner end in communication with an interior of one of said compartments to a second open outer end for injecting water into the ground.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.