Patent EA-002568-B1 (EA)
Title: In-line sub-surface seeding, fertilizing and watering device
IPC: A01C23/02
Filed: 1998-10-16
Abstract: 1. A sub-surface seeding, fertilizing and watering device comprising: an opening blade, said opening blade having first and second sides extending between a leading edge and an aft edge, said first and second sides generally symmetrical to each other on either side of a first plane, said first plane generally bisecting said opening blade, said leading edge and said aft edge lying generally in said first plane, said opening blade mountable to a material feeder so as to be generally vertically disposed when mounted thereon for partial submerging into soil to a first submerged depth during forward translation advancing said leading edge through the soil, said opening blade having an upper surface and a lower surface extending between upper and lower edges respectively of said first and second sides, first and second wings mounted to said first and second sides respectively in generally oppositely disposed relation so as to be cantilevered outwardly therefrom, said first and second wings extending between first and second forward wing edges and first and second aft-opening wing apertures in said first and second wings respectively, said first and second wings mounted to said first and second sides at, respectively, first and second distances from said lower surface measured generally parallel to said first plane, said opening blade having therethrough, and generally lying in said first plane, first and second conduits, said first and second conduits extending from, and cooperating with, at uppermost ends thereof, first and second infeed ports in said upper surface, said first and second conduits cooperating with, at lowermost ends thereof, first and second wing ducts extending aft through said first and second wings respectively between said lowermost ends of said first and second conduits and said first and second aft-opening wing apertures, said first and second conduits and corresponding said first and second wing ducts thereby in material flow communication between said first and second infeed ports and corresponding said first and second aft opening wing apertures for seed, fertilizer or fluid flow, as fed from said material feeder, therethrough during said forward translation, wherein said first and second distances are less than said first submerged depth so that aid first and second wings are submerged in the soil during said forward translation. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said opening blade further comprises a third conduit extending in material flow communication between a third infeed port in said upper surface and an aft opening blade aperture in a rearward position on said opening blade in proximity to said aft edge for seed, fertilizer or fluid flow, as fed from said material feeder, therethrough during said forward translation. 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said aft-opening blade aperture is centrally disposed relative to said first plane so as to lie generally symmetrically across said first plane. 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said aft-opening blade aperture intersects said lower surface. 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said aft-opening blade aperture is formed at the intersection of said lower surface and said aft edge. 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said aft-opening blade aperture lies in a second plane at generally 30 degree  inclined relative to a third plane generally containing said lower surface, wherein said third plane is generally orthogonal to said first plane. 7. The device of claim 2 wherein said first, second and third conduits are generally parallel and raked aft of corresponding said first, second and third infeed ports. 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said first, second and third conduits are raked aft at an angle of approximately 55 degree  relative to a fourth plane generally containing said upper surface. 9. The device of claim 7 wherein at least said first and second conduits are formed by mating of corresponding opposed facing channels in oppositely mounted side panels, oppositely mounted in said first and second sides. 10. The device of claim 9 wherein said third conduit is generally parallel and adjacent said aft edge. 11. The device of claim 1 wherein said leading edge is concavely curved and forms a pointed toe at an intersection of said leading edge and said lower surface. 12. The device of claim 11 wherein said pointed toe is made of hardened material relative to the hardness of material forming the balance of said opening blade. 13. The device of claim 11 wherein said opening blade has a longitudinal length dimension and a height dimension, said longitudinal length dimension perpendicular to said height dimension and both lying in said first plane, and wherein said opening blade has a lateral width dimension perpendicular to said first plane, said longitudinal length dimension extending between said leading and aft edges, said height dimension extending between said upper and lower surfaces, and said lateral width dimension extending between said first and second sides, wherein said length dimension is much greater than said width dimension, and wherein said height dimension is greater than said submerged depth, and wherein said first and second wings are wedge-shaped and said forward wing edges are vertices of said wedge-shaped wings. 14. The device of claim 13 wherein said first and second sides have upper portions generally located between said first and second wings and said upper surface, and lower portions generally located between said first and second wings and said lower surface, and wherein said lower portions collectively form a waisted shape so that a forward width dimension of a forward flared portion of said opening blade and an aft width dimension of an aft flared portion of said opening blade, said forward and aft width dimensions extending between said lower portions of said first and second sides, are greater than an intermediate width dimension of a waisted portion longitudinally extending contiguously between said forward and aft flared portions. 15. The device of claim 1 wherein said first and second wings are wedge-shaped and said forward wing edges are vertices of said wedge-shaped wings, wherein said first and second sides have upper portions generally located between said first and second wings and said upper surface, and lower portions generally located between said first and second wings and said lower surface, and wherein said lower portions collectively form a waisted shape so that a forward width dimension of a forward flared portion of said opening blade and an aft width dimension of an aft flared portion of said opening blade, said forward and aft width dimensions extending between said lower portions of said first and second sides, are greater than an intermediate width dimension of a waisted portion longitudinally extending contiguously between said forward and aft flared portions. 16. The device of claim 14 OR 15 wherein said first wing is set back a first longitudinal distance from said leading edge and said second wing is set back a second longitudinal distance from said leading edge, and wherein said first longitudinal distance is greater than said second longitudinal distance, said first wing mounted to said first side at a first longitudinal location generally corresponding to said aft flared portion and said second wing mounted to said second side at a second longitudinal location generally corresponding to said waisted portion. 17. The device of claim 14 or 15 wherein an upper wing surface on said first and second wings extends aft over corresponding said first and second aft-opening wing apertures on aft cantilevered upper wing members. 18. The device of claim 17 wherein a lower wing surface on said first and second wings forms a first wedge angle of approximately 5 degree  with said upper wing surface. 19. The device of claim 18 wherein laterally outer-most wing surfaces extend between said upper and lower wing surfaces on said first and second wings, and wherein said outer most wing surfaces intersect corresponding said first and second sides at corresponding said first and second forward wing edges. 20. The device of claim 19 wherein said outer-most wing surfaces form a second wedge angle of approximately 5 degree  with said first and second sides respectively. 21. The device of claim 17 wherein said first and second wings are inclined downwardly so that a pair of corresponding planes bisecting a wedge angle between upper and lower wing surfaces on each of said first and second wings, said pair of corresponding planes containing corresponding said forward wing edges, are inclined forwardly and downwardly at approximately 5 degree  relative to a generally horizontal plane containing said lower surface.