Apparatus for applying liquid fertilizers and pesticides using a dual stage variable rate distribution manifold

A dual-stage manifold for distributing agricultural fluids, said manifold comprising:

• a body defining a main chamber;
• a piston disposed in the main chamber and shiftable between a first stage position and a second stage position;
• and
• a fluid distributor sealingly coupled to the body adjacent the main chamber,
• said piston dividing the main chamber into a fluid distribution chamber and a compression chamber,
• said fluid distribution chamber and said compression chamber being substantially fluidly isolated from one another,
• said fluid distributor presenting a fluid inlet, a primary outlet port, and a secondary outlet port each in direct fluid communication with the fluid distribution chamber when the piston is in the second stage position,
• said piston operable to substantially terminate direct fluid flow out of the fluid distribution chamber through the secondary outlet port when the piston is in the first stage position.

A dual-stage, dual-tier manifold for distributing agricultural fluids, said manifold comprising:

• a body defining a main chamber;
• a piston disposed in the main chamber and shiftable between a first stage position and a second stage position;
• and
• a fluid distributor sealingly coupled to the body adjacent the main chamber,
• said piston dividing the main chamber into a fluid distribution chamber and a compression chamber,
• said fluid distribution chamber and said compression chamber being substantially fluidly isolated from one another,
• said fluid distributor presenting a fluid inlet, a first primary outlet port, a second primary outlet port, and a secondary outlet port each in direct fluid communication with the fluid distribution chamber when the piston is in the second stage position,
• said first primary outlet port, said second primary outlet port, and said secondary outlet port being spaced from one another in a direction corresponding to the direction of shifting of the piston in the main chamber,
• said piston operable to substantially terminate direct fluid flow out of the fluid distribution chamber through the secondary outlet port when the piston is in the first stage position.

An apparatus for applying an agricultural fluid to soil, said apparatus comprising:

• a pump adapted to increase the pressure of the agricultural fluid;
• a dual-stage manifold fluidly coupled to the pump, said manifold comprising
• a body defining a main chamber;
• a piston disposed in the main chamber and shiftable between a first stage position and a second stage position;
• and
• a fluid distributor sealingly coupled to the body adjacent the main chamber,
• said piston dividing the main chamber into a fluid distribution chamber and a compression chamber,
• said fluid distribution chamber and said compression chamber being substantially fluidly isolated from one another,
• said fluid distributor presenting a fluid inlet, a plurality of primary outlet ports, and a plurality of secondary outlet ports each in direct fluid communication with the fluid distribution chamber when the piston is in the second stage position,
• said piston operable to substantially terminate direct fluid flow out of the fluid distribution chamber through said plurality of secondary outlet ports when the piston is in the first stage position,
• said fluid distributor defining a plurality of secondary chambers each fluidly coupling one of said plurality of primary outlet ports and a respective one of said plurality of secondary outlet ports, each of said plurality of secondary chambers spaced from the distribution chamber;
• a plurality of injection lines each fluidly coupled to a respective one of said plurality of secondary chambers;
• and
• a plurality of terminal orifices each fluidly coupled to a respective one of said plurality of injection lines and operable to discharge the agricultural fluid to the soil.

An apparatus for distributing an agricultural fluid, said apparatus comprising:

• an accumulator defining a first chamber;
• a piston shiftably disposed in the first chamber and sealingly contacting the accumulator,
• said piston fluidly dividing the first chamber into a second chamber and a third chamber;
• and
• a manifold coupled to the accumulator proximate the third chamber,
• said manifold defining an inlet, a first set of outlet ports, and a second set of outlet ports,
• said manifold including an elevated sealing land surrounding the inlet and the first set of outlet ports,
• said second set of outlet ports surrounding the sealing land,
• said piston being shiftable between a first stage position wherein the piston engages the sealing land and a second stage position wherein the piston is spaced from the sealing land,
• said inlet and said outlet ports directly fluidly communicating with the third chamber when the piston is in the second stage position.