Abstract:
Apparatus for positioning and maneuvering a sludge, or manure, distributing hose used in fertilizing a field includes a first frame adapted for coupling to a three-point tractor hitch and a second frame pivotally coupled to an aft portion of the first frame. Attached to and disposed aft of the second frame is a horizontally oriented, rotatable wheel assembly adapted to engage, lift and position the hose and to provide for changes in the direction of the hose as it is pulled through a field during fertilizing. The wheel assembly is horizontally and vertically pivotable about the first frame for respectively facilitating maneuvering of the hose in a field and for raising the wheel assembly for transport. A locking mechanism is provided for engaging and preventing rotation of the wheel assembly when desired. Hydraulic cylinders connected to the tractor&#39;s hydraulic system allow for changing the configuration of the apparatus.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to agricultural fertilizing and is particularly directed to tractor-towed apparatus for engaging and positioning a hose for use in spreading sludge, or manure, on a field. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Animals are raised on farms for various reasons. In many cases, a primary reason is for the manure that they produce. The manure is a valuable, sometimes an essential, fertilizing agent in the growing of crops. The manure is collected over time and is stored for later application on crop-yielding fields. The manure is typically stored in a pit, or lagoon, located typically close to, and in some cases may be under, the facility in which the animals are housed. The size of the storage pit depends primarily on the number and types of animals which are housed, and may be large enough to hold millions of gallons of manure. 
     The manure is typically held in a storage pit for several months and is applied in the spring and fall in many farming regions. During fertilizing, the manure is pumped out of the manure pit and is provided via long lengths of hose to various locations on a farm. A tractor is used to pull the manure-laden hose in a back and forth pattern over the fields in spreading the manure on the fields. To access remote locations, a length of hose exceeding one mile may be required. The hose, when filled with sludge, is very heavy and is, thus, difficult to maneuver and position. Spreading the manure involves the towing tractor traversing the entire field, and positioning of the hose to accommodate natural barriers such as water, woods and surface contour. Proper positioning of the sludge hose places great demand not only on the service provider, but also on the equipment involved in manipulating the sludge hose. 
     The present invention is intended to address the aforementioned problems encountered in the prior art by providing positioning apparatus for a sludge distributing hose which is adapted for secure attachment to the three-point hitch of a tractor, is capable of engaging, maneuvering and lifting the sludge hose, as necessary, and can be raised to a non-use position to facilitate transport to and from the fields to be fertilized. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to facilitate the application of sludge fertilizer to a field. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus adapted for mounting to the three-point hitch of a tractor and which is capable of engaging, lifting and positioning a sludge-filled hose for applying fertilizer to a field. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sludge hose maneuvering apparatus capable of precisely positioning the sludge on-the-go during field fertilizing, is easily attached to and removed from a tractor, can be precisely controlled by the tractor operator while driving the tractor, and can be used as either a pulley in passing the hose or as a fixed curvilinear surface in positioning the hose in the field. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide the capability to the operator of a tractor maneuvering a sludge applicator hose in a field to laterally displace the sludge hose from the line of travel of the tractor so that the displaced sludge hose lies outside of the tractor&#39;s foot print to avoid the tractor running over the sludge hose as it maneuvers the hose. 
     The present invention contemplates an apparatus for engaging and positioning a sludge hose in spreading fertilizer on a field, the apparatus comprising a first frame member adapted for mounting to a vehicle; a second frame member pivotally coupled to said first frame member; a curvilinear rotatable member attached to the second frame member and adapted to engage the sludge hose; a first displacement mechanism coupled to the first and second frame members for raising the second frame member, the rotatable member, and the sludge hose above the field; and a second displacement mechanism coupled to the second frame and to the rotatable member for laterally displacing the rotatable member in repositioning the sludge hose. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The appended claims set forth the novel features which characterize the invention. However, the invention itself, as well as further objects and advantages thereof, is best understood with reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like reference characters identified like elements throughout the various figures, in which: 
         FIGS. 1-4  illustrate uses of the sludge distributing hose positioning apparatus of the present invention in fertilizing a farm field in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a positioning apparatus for a sludge distributing hose in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the inventive sludge distributing hose positioning apparatus show in  FIG. 5 , where the hose-engaging wheel assembly has been moved so as to assume nonlinear alignment with the support/attachment frame of the apparatus; 
         FIG. 7  is an upper perspective view of an aft portion of the inventive sludge distributing hose positioning apparatus; 
         FIG. 8  is an aft perspective view of a conventional tractor illustrating details of its three-point hitch arrangement for coupling to the inventive sludge distributing hose positioning apparatus; 
         FIG. 9  is an upper, partial perspective view of a front portion of the inventive sludge distributing hose positioning apparatus illustrating details of its hose-engaging, rotatable wheel assembly; 
         FIG. 10  is an upper perspective view of a rear portion of the inventive sludge distributing hose positioning hose apparatus; and 
         FIGS. 11 and 12  are side elevation views of the inventive sludge distributing hose positioning apparatus respectively illustrating the positioning apparatus in the operating position and in the up raised, transport position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , there are shown illustrations of a farm field and the manner in which the sludge distributing hose positioning apparatus of the present invention is used in fertilizing a farm field. Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a farm field  13  forming the upper right corner quadrant of a larger farm field  11  as shown in a lower portion of the figure. A tractor towing a sludge distributing hose (neither of which are shown in  FIG. 1  for simplicity) traverses a path illustrated by dotted line  15  in depositing sludge fertilizer on the field  13 . In the illustrated example, the tractor enters the lower left hand corner of the field  13  and traverses the field to its upper right hand corner while towing the hose as sludge is discharged from the hose onto the field. When the tractor reaches the upper right hand corner of the field  13 , it executes a 180° turn and returns to the lower left hand corner of the field. This pattern is repeated until the lower right hand portion of the field  13  is fertilized and the tractor travels to the upper right hand portion of the field for completing the application of the sludge fertilizer to the field. 
     One example of the use of a sludge distributing hose positioning apparatus  21  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In this example, a tractor (not show for simplicity) towing an end of sludge distributing hose  21  has diagonally traversed field  13  from its lower left corner to its upper right corner and has applied sludge fertilizer to the lower right hand portion of the field. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the sludge distributing hose  17  is being moved in a rightward direction by the hose positioning apparatus  21  which is being pushed in the direction of arrow  55  by tractor  19 . This operation involves moving the sludge distributing hose  17  onto the portion of the field  13  which has been fertilized to allow the tractor towing the sludge distributing hose to apply sludge fertilizer to the upper left hand portion of the field without damaging the sludge hose by driving over it. This also eliminates excessive maneuvering by the hose-towing vehicle in removing the sludge hose from the portion of the field to be fertilized which saves time, fuel and results in reduced compaction of the soil by the vehicle during planting. 
       FIG. 2  also shows a portion of the hose positioning apparatus  21  at an offset angle to the line of travel of tractor  19  which is in the direction of arrow  55 . The manner in which the hose positioning apparatus  21  of the present invention positions the sludge distributing hose  17  in a laterally offset manner from the tractor&#39;s path is described in detail below. In a preferred embodiment, the maximum angle formed between the hose engaging portion of the hose positioning apparatus  21  and the tractor&#39;s path is on the order of 55° giving rise to a lateral offset from the tractor&#39;s path on the order of 188 inches, or 15 feet 8 inches. This distance exceeds one-half the maximum width of a tractor having a dual tire drive arrangement. By maintaining the sludge distributing hose in an offset position to the path of travel of the tractor  19 , the tractor can more quickly and efficiently move the sludge distributing hose  17  to a desired location by maintaining the hose positioning apparatus  21  in continuous contact with the sludge distributing hose as the hose positioning apparatus moves along a desired track. This eliminates the current practice wherein the tractor and hose positioning apparatus repeatedly engage and displace adjacent portions of the sludge distributing hose in a sequential manner in repositioning extended lengths of the hose. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown another use of the sludge hose positioning apparatus  35  of the present invention in engaging and moving a sludge distributing hose  31 .  FIG. 3  shows a farm field  23   a  bordered on the lower portion thereof by a terrace  23   b  which is used for water run off. Sludge distributing hose  31  has been dragged over the upper portion of farm field  23   a  by a tractor (not shown) in fertilizing the upper portion of the field. Field  23   a  slopes downward in the direction of arrows  53  toward terrace  23   b . A vertical field tile, or standpipe,  29  is located in a lower portion of field  23   a  adjacent terrace  23   b  to facilitate draining of the field under wet conditions. This type of vertical field tile  29  typically extends on the order of three feet above the soil. The inventive hose positioning apparatus  35  attached to tractor  33  and has engaged and lifted a portion of the sludge hose  31  over vertical field tile  29  and located the hose at, or adjacent to, the boundary between the farm field  23   a  and terrace  23   b . This allows the sludge hose towing tractor to fertilize the lower portion of field  23   a  adjacent terrace  23   b  without damaging field tile  29 , running over and damaging sludge distributing hose  31  or undergoing excessive maneuvering to avoid the field tile while still being able to access the lower limits of the field. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown another example of the use of the inventive hose positioning apparatus  48  during fertilization of a farm field  37 . In the example of  FIG. 4 , farm field  37  is bordered on its upper portion by woods and includes an upwardly extending notch portion which extends into the woods. A tractor (not shown) towing sludge fertilizer hose  43  has traversed the path  41  shown in dotted line form for fertilizing the upward extending notch of field  37 . The tractor then exits the areas shown in  FIG. 4  via path  41   a  and first and second hose positioning apparatus  47  and  48  respectively connected to first and second tractors  45  and  46  are used to reposition the sludge distributing hose  43  to permit the sludge hose towing tractor to traverse the lower portion of field  37  shown in  FIG. 4 . The first hose positioning apparatus  47  is shown being pushed upwardly in the direction of arrow  57  for locating the sludge distributing hose on fertilized ground and clearing the unfertilized portion of field  37  to allow the towing tractor to cover the unfertilized portion. Similarly, the second tractor  46  is displacing the second hose positioning apparatus  48  in the direction of arrow  59  to relocate the sludge distributing hose  43  on treated soil and clear untreated ground in perpetration for applying fertilizer to the untreated soil. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a top plan view of the hose positioning apparatus  10  of the present invention is shown and includes a mounting frame  12 , a wheel support frame  14 , a support arm  16 , and a wheel assembly  18 . With additional reference to  FIG. 8 , mounting frame  12  is used to connect the hose positioning apparatus  10  to a tractor  38 . In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the mounting frame  12  includes a forward beam  20   a , an aft beam  20   b , a first side beam  22   a , and a second side beam  22   b  all of which are rigidly secured to one another to provide a generally rectangular frame. A center beam  24  is rigidly secured to and extends between the forward and aft beams  20   a ,  20   b  to provide additional structural support to the mounting frame  12 . Exemplary manners of rigidly securing the beams to one another include welding, unitarily forming, fastening, etc. In other exemplary embodiments, mounting frame  12  may include other quantities of beams rigidly secured to one another to form other frame shapes such as, for example, triangular, polygonal, etc. 
     As particularly shown in the aft upper perspective view of  FIG. 7 , mounting frame  12  also includes an upright structural member  34  rigidly secured to and extending upward from the forward beam  20   b , and a pair of braces  36   a  and  36   b  rigidly secured to and extending between the upright structural member  34  and the center beam  24 . 
     The mounting frame  12  further includes a hitch attachment arrangement  26  for connecting the mounting frame  12  to a hitch  40  on the tractor  38 . In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the hitch attachment arrangement is a three-point hitch attachment arrangement  26  for connecting to a complementarily configured three-point hitch  40  on the tractor  38  as shown in  FIG. 8 . In other exemplary embodiments, the hitch attachment arrangement  26  may have other configurations for connecting to tractor hitches  40  having other configurations. 
     The three-point hitch attachment arrangement  26  includes a first connector  28 , a second connector  30 , and a third connector  32 , and the three-point tractor hitch  40  includes three complementary connection points to which the first, second, and third connectors may be removably connected. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first connector  28  is located near a top of the upright structural member  34 , the second connector  30  is located near the intersection of the aft beam  20   b  and the first side beam  22   a , and the third connector  32  is located near the intersection of the aft beam and the second side beam  22   b . Alternatively, the connectors  28 ,  30 ,  32  may be located at different locations on the mounting frame  12  as long as the connectors  28 ,  30 ,  32  are appropriately located to connect to the tractor hitch  40 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIGS. 9-12 , wheel support frame  14  extends from and is rotatably connected to mounting frame  12  via pivot connections  84   a  and  84   b . Although the illustrated exemplary embodiment shows two pivot connections  84   a ,  84   b , the present invention is not limited to this number of connections. Wheel support frame  14  has a generally triangular shape that reduces in width in proceeding away from mounting frame  12 . Support arm  16  is rotatably connected to wheel support frame  14  at a first end of the support arm via pivot connection  86  and is rotatably connected to wheel assembly  18  at a second, opposed end. 
     Wheel assembly  18  includes an upper circular rim  50 , a lower circular rim  52 , an inner ring member  54 , a hub  58 , and a wheel mounting member  60 . Plural upper radially extending members  50   a  extend between the upper circular rim  50  and hub  58 , and plural lower radially extending members  52   a  extend between lower circular rim  52  and hub  58  to provide structural rigidity to the wheel assembly  18 . Hub  58  is rotatably secured to wheel mounting member  60 , which is rigidly secured to support arm  16  to facilitate rotation of the wheel assembly  18  in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions relative to the support arm. Inner ring member  54  provides a surface against which a hose  56  may abut as the hose positioning apparatus  10  is utilized to position the hose. Upper and lower circular rims  50 ,  52  provide vertical restraint for hose  56  to inhibit the hose from disengaging the wheel assembly  18  during operation. 
     Hose positioning apparatus  10  further includes a locking assembly  61  for selectively preventing or enabling rotation of wheel assembly  18 . Locking assembly  61  includes an actuator or hydraulic cylinder  62 , a mounting arm  64  for connecting hydraulic cylinder  62  to support arm  16 , and a latch arm  66  connected to the hydraulic cylinder. Latch arm  66  is movable by the hydraulic cylinder  62  between a locking position (see  FIGS. 11 and 12 ), in which the latch arm is disposed in the path of the upper radially extending members  50   a  of the upper circular rim  50  to prevent rotation of the wheel assembly  18 , and an unlocked position (see  FIG. 9 ), in which the latch arm is moved out of the path of the upper radially extending members to allow the wheel assembly to freely rotate. Locking assembly  61  also includes hydraulic hoses  68  to provide the necessary pressurized hydraulic fluid to hydraulic cylinder  62  for operation. In other exemplary embodiments, locking assembly  61  may have other configurations and operate in other manners in order to selectively prevent and enable rotation of the wheel assembly  18 . 
     Support arm  16  and wheel assembly  18  may be rotated about pivot connection  86  relative to wheel support frame  14  via an actuator or hydraulic cylinder  25 . Hydraulic hoses  27  provide the necessary pressurized hydraulic fluid to hydraulic cylinder  25  for operation. Hydraulic cylinder  25  is connected to support arm  16  and is capable of moving the support arm and wheel assembly  18  through a continuous range of positions between a straight position (see  FIG. 5 ) and an angularly displaced position (see  FIG. 6 ). Alternatively, the combination of support arm  16  and wheel assembly  18  may be rotationally displaced relative to wheel support frame  14  in other manners and may have their positioning limits other than those illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . For example, support arm  16  and wheel assembly  18  may be rotated from its straight position in a direction opposite to the position shown in  FIG. 6 . In such an instance, rotational displacement limits of support arm  16  and wheel assembly  18  may be the fully-angled position shown in  FIG. 6  and a fully-angled position disposed on the other side of the straight position as shown in  FIG. 5 . It should be further understood that support arm  16  and wheel assembly  18  may be rotated to any position relative to the wheel support frame  14  and still be within the intended spirit and scope of the present invention. The capability to pivotally displace wheel assembly  18  relative to the rest of the hose positioning apparatus  10  provides the operator with substantially greater flexibility in locating and positioning the sludge hose with respect to the tractor. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, an actuator or hydraulic cylinder  80  rotates the wheel support frame  14 , support arm  16 , and wheel assembly  18  relative to the mounting frame  12  about the pivot connections  84 , although the present invention is not limited to this means of rotational displacement. Hydraulic hoses  82  provide the necessary pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder  80  for operation. Hydraulic cylinder  80  is connected at a first end to mounting frame  12  and at a second, opposed end to wheel support frame  14 . Depending on the direction of its movement, hydraulic cylinder  80  pushes or pulls wheel support frame  14 , support arm  16 , and wheel assembly  18  between a substantially horizontal, operating position (see  FIG. 11 ) and an upraised, travel position (see  FIG. 12 ). Alternatively, wheel support frame  14 , support arm  16 , and wheel assembly  18  may be rotated between the operating and travel positions in other manners all of which are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. During transport of the hose positioning apparatus  10 , it is desirable to maintain the wheel support frame  14 , support arm  16 , and wheel assembly  18  in the upraised, travel position. 
     A brace member  90  is used to maintain the wheel support frame  14 , support arm  16 , and wheel assembly  18  in the upraised position for transport. When in use, brace member  90  is secured at a first end to a first mounting bracket  96  via a first coupling pin  100  and at a second end to a second mounting bracket  98  via a second coupling pin  102 . First mounting bracket  96  is positioned on upright structural member  34  and second mounting bracket  98  is positioned on an upper surface of support arm  16 . Alternatively, the brace member  90  may have other configurations, may be connected to the hose positioning apparatus  10  in other manners, and may be connected to the hose positioning apparatus  10  in different locations and be within the intended spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     When the brace member  90  is not in use, it is located in a storage position by attaching it to mounting frame  12 . When stored, a first end of the brace member  90  is connected to the aft beam  20   b  with a first positioning pin  92  and a second end of the brace member is connected to the second side beam  22   b  with a second positioning pin  94 . Alternatively, the brace member  90  may be connected to the hose positioning apparatus  10  in other manners and in other locations in order to position the brace member  90  in a storage position. 
     The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The descriptions were selected to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although particular constructions of the present invention have been shown and described, other alternative constructions will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the intended scope of the present invention as recited in the following claims.