Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to spray nozzle assemblies for agricultural implements and, more specifically, to a nozzle assembly that is particularly useful for attachment on the frame of a seeding device such as a planter row unit. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Liquid chemicals are often applied in bands or in furrow over an open furrow during planting operations. A typical application arrangement includes a spray nozzle for applying liquid pesticide or other chemical. The nozzle is supported in a bracket that is connected to the frame of a planter row unit by bolts at a location immediately rearwardly of the furrow opening disk. Space is extremely limited on the row unit frame, and the mounting of the entire spray assembly can be difficult and time consuming. The nozzle operates in a relatively harsh environment, and high impact forces can damage the spray assembly. Repair and replacement of the nozzle are inconvenient because of the limited space and number of mounting components. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A nozzle and bracket assembly having a minimal number of parts and particularly useful for mounting on a planter row unit includes a slotted bracket connected by a single bolt to the unit frame. The bracket has extensions that conform to and abut the row unit frame casting to provide additional strength while facilitating easy access to the mounting bolt. A molded plastic nozzle body includes mounting tabs received by the bracket slots. The tabs snap fit into the bracket slots, and the nozzle body is guided into position by the slots. A nozzle cap threaded onto the body adjacent the bracket constrains the body against upward movement to provide a secure nozzle body connection and eliminate or minimize impact damage to the body. The easily replaceable cap contacts the bracket and protects the more costly nozzle body from damage. The assembly is easily installed in the limited space area of the row unit frame and can be conveniently accessed for servicing or changing a nozzle. The entire assembly has few total parts, is extremely compact and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install. 
         [0004]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description below taken with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a planter row unit with a nozzle assembly attached. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the aft portion of the planter row unit of  FIG. 1  showing the nozzle support area with the nozzle assembly removed. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a side view, partially in section, of a frame casting from the support area with the nozzle assembly attached 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the nozzle assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the nozzle assembly. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the nozzle assembly showing the nozzle body in the mounted position on the nozzle bracket. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the nozzle assembly illustrating the attachment features. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1  therein is shown a portion of a seeding device  10  adapted for movement over the soil for depositing seed in a furrow and closing the furrow over the seed. As shown, the seeding device  10  is a planter including a row unit  12  having a forward, end  14  connected by a four-bar linkage  18  to a toolbar (not shown). Conventional furrow opening structure  18  with depth gauging is connected to an opener frame  20  and opens a furrow in the ground and deposits material such as seed and fertilizer in the furrow. Trailing press wheel structure  22  supported from the frame  20  at a pivot location  24  firms the soil over the deposited material. 
         [0013]    The opener frame  20  includes a frame casting  30  connected by holts  32  and  34  ( FIG. 2 ) to an underside of the frame  20  immediately rearwardly of the opening structure  18 . The casting  30  includes an upper apertured portion  38  receiving, the bolts  32  and  34  and a chemical supply line  38 . The casting  30  extends rearwardly and downwardly from the apertured portion  36  to a downwardly and forwardly extending mounting portion  40  that terminates at a lowermost end in an apertured mounting member  42  for receiving one end of a firming wheel down pressure spring  44 . The casting  30  defines a downwardly and forwardly opening cavity indicated generally at  48 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , access to the cavity area is relatively limited. 
         [0014]    A nozzle and bracket assembly  50  is secured generally within the cavity  48  by the bolt  34 . The supply line  38  feeds a chemical solution to the top of the assembly  50 , and a chemical spray  52  ( FIG. 3 ) is emitted from the bottom of the assembly onto the area of the furrow near the rear of the opener assembly  18 . 
         [0015]    The assembly  50  includes a formed sheet metal bracket  60  having a generally horizontal top portion  82  with a slot  84  opening ail the way through the rearmost edge of the portion ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). A forward and generally planar slotted wall  66  with spaced upright slots  66   a  extends downwardly and slopes slightly forwardly from the top portion  62 . Two identical legs  68  are bent rearwardly from the bottom and extend generally horizontally to upturned ends  70 . The bolt  34  secures the top portion  62  against the bottom surface of the portion  36 . The ends  70  of the legs  68  conform to and are resiliency supported against the inside wall of the mounting portion  40 . As can be best appreciated from  FIG. 3 , the bracket  60  is secured firmly in place in the cavity  48  using only the single bolt  34  and contact between the ends  70  and the casting  30 . Therefore, although the space in the area of the cavity  48  is limited, attachment and removal of the assembly  50  is facilitated. 
         [0016]    The assembly  50  also includes a nozzle body  80  having an upper inlet  82  connected to the supply line  38  and a nozzle cap  84  releasably mounted on the lower end of the body  80  and defining the spray pattern for the spray  52 . The body  80  as shown is molded from plastic material and includes rearwardly projecting spaced upper and lower mounting tabs  86   a  and  86   b  received by the slots  66   a  in the wall  66 . The tabs  86   a  and  86   b  extend through the slots  66   a  and embrace opposite edges of the slots for firm support by the slotted wall  66 . The ends of the tabs  86  have laterally directed protrusions ( FIG. 7 ) to help secure the body  80  in the slots  66   a . Also, the slots  66   a  have centrally located offsets  66   b  that contact the upper tabs  88   a  as the body  80  is slid downwardly into the final assembled position on the bracket  60 . The offsets  68   b  help resist upward movement of the body  80  in the slots  86   a  and maintain the body  80  in the desired position. 
         [0017]    For added assembly integrity and body impact protection, the nozzle cap  84 , which is connected to the lower end of the body  80  after the body is slid into position on the bracket  80  by a conventional attachment structure such as a bayonet mount, overlaps the plane of the slotted wall  86  and contacts the wall  86  if for any reason the body  80  is pushed upwardly. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the wall  66  includes a downwardly opening aperture or slot  66   c  between the bend locations of the legs  88 , and the upper planar surface of the cap  84  (see  84   c  of  FIG. 4 ) will contact the lower edge of the slot  66   c  if the body  80  is forced upwardly a fraction of a millimeter. This interference between the nozzle cap  84  and the bracket  80  provides added nozzle body retention and makes the assembly  50  more robust and resistant to damage. The attached nozzle cap  84  closely adjacent the lower edge contacts the edge of  68   c  at  84   c  as the nozzle body  80  is urged upwardly and thereby transfers impact loading from the nozzle cap to the frame through the bracket  80  to prevent nozzle body damage. The relatively inexpensive cap  84  can be easily replaced if damaged and prevents damage to the more expensive nozzle body  80 . 
         [0018]    During assembly, the tabs  86   a  and  86   b  of the nozzle body  80  are inserted into the slots and slid downwardly into a final mounting position past the slot offsets  66   b  ( FIG. 7 ), and the nozzle cap  84  is attached. The casting  30  is secured to the opener frame  20  with the bolts  32  and  34 . Before the bolt  34  is completely tightened, the bracket  60  is attached by sliding the slot  64  under the head of the bolt  34  and positioning the leg ends  70  against the mounting portion  40  ( FIG. 2 ). The bolt  34  is then fully tightened to secure the assembly  50  in the casting  30 . Assembly and disassembly of the sprayer assembly on the opener frame is therefore very simple and convenient. The above-described assembly facilitates manufacture and servicing and requires only several parts. 
         [0019]    Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Technology Category: 1