An apparatus for distributing liquid manure including a mobile spreader tank to contain the liquid manure and adapted to be drawn by a tractor. A frame is supported by the three-point hitch of the tractor, and a series of soil working elements are mounted on the frame and are adapted to penetrate the soil when the frame is lowered. A delivery tube for the liquid manure is positioned behind each soil working element, and a flexible conduit connects each delivery tube with a valve controlled outlet in the tank. The liquid manure is delivered through the conduit system to the delivery tubes by an auger located within the tank, or alternately, by pressurizing the spreader tank.

Liquid manure system

A method and apparatus for controlling and monitoring the application rate of the anhydrous ammonia to the soil. A heat exchanger is used to maintain the anhydrous ammonia in a liquid state so that a flow control valve coupled to the heat exchanger can accurately control the rate of flow of liquid anhydrous ammonia to a manifold. Separate lines connected to the manifold distribute the liquid anhydrous ammonia to nozzles associated with earthworking tools to incorporate the ammonia into the soil. A portion of the ammonia from the manifold is directed back to an expansion chamber in the heat exchanger. The ammonia in the expansion chamber partially changes from a liquid to a vapor, thereby lowering the temperature of the ammonia in the expansion chamber and transferring heat from the liquid anhydrous ammonia in the heat exchanger to thereby maintain the ammonia in the liquid state. Lines carry the ammonia from the expansion chamber to nozzles associated with earthworking tools to incorporate the ammonia into the soil.

Method and apparatus for controlling and monitoring NH3

A control valve for automatically controlling fluid fertilizer is introduced in a fluid fertilizer application system of the type comprising: a fertilizer supply; an implement having fertilizer application elements; means for moving said application elements between a lowered, application position and a raised, transport position; and conduit means for delivering fertilizer from the fertilizer supply to the application elements. The control valve is interposed in the conduit means between the fertilizer supply and the application elements and has a control lever terminating in a saddle adapted to receive a projection. A collapsible and extendable valve actuator means, which is responsive to the means for moving the application elements between raised and lowered positions and which has thereon a projection adapted to engage the valve control lever, controls the valve such that it is closed when the application elements are raised and open when the application elements are lowered.

Automatic fluid fertilizer control apparatus

Apparatus for mounting a plurality of substance distribution heads to an agricultural implement used in post-emergence and pre-emergence row crop farming operation. The apparatus includes an elongate support which is disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal direction of the row crops. The elongate support is receivable of a plurality of substance distribution heads. The apparatus further includes a mounting means for mounting the elongate support to the agricultural implement wherein the mounting means includes height adjustment means for adjusting the height of the elongate support relative to the row crops so that the generally vertical distance between the distribution heads and the row crops is selectively adjustable.

Apparatus for mounting application heads to an agricultural implement

A spreader for fertilizer or similar material has a metering mechanism for said material to vary the rate of spreading. The metering mechanism has two metering members in face-to-face contact defining a metering opening. A hydraulic ram moves the metering members so as to open and close the opening. An adjustable stop within the ram allows the ram's stroke to be changed. This changes the extent to which the ram can open the opening so that the ram can be supplied with fluid under sufficient pressure to overcome possible corrosion between the metering members.

Implements for delivering particulate material to the ground

A control apparatus having a valve unit interposed between the fluid fertilizer supply and the meter structure of a fertilizing apparatus. The valve unit is remote from the meter and has an actuator rotatably inserted therein. A hydraulic cylinder is affixed to the actuator and effects rotation of the actuator whereby the valve unit is opened and closed.

La Monte H Sahling

Papers

Fluid fertilizer control apparatus