US 11,985,915 B2
Fluid covering implement
Jason Stoller, Eureka, IL (US); Paul Wildermuth, Tremont, IL (US); Ian Radtke, Washington, IL (US); and Cory Muhlbauer, Bloomington, IL (US)
Assigned to Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Appl. No. 16/492,417
Filed by Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 7, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/021321
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 9, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/165282, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 13, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/469,371, filed on Mar. 9, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/501,598, filed on May 4, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0037496 A1, Feb. 6, 2020
Int. Cl. A01C 13/00 (2006.01); A01B 39/08 (2006.01); A01B 39/14 (2006.01); A01B 49/06 (2006.01); A01C 21/00 (2006.01); A01C 23/02 (2006.01)
CPC A01C 13/00 (2013.01) [A01B 39/08 (2013.01); A01B 39/14 (2013.01); A01B 49/06 (2013.01); A01C 21/002 (2013.01); A01C 23/025 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An implement for depositing fluid in the rhizosphere of plants growing in a field and for covering the fluid, the implement comprising:
a frame;
an implement configured to dispense fluids, wherein the implement further comprises a vertical member attached to the frame and extending down towards soil in the field;
a support member being pivotably attached to the vertical member at an opposite end to the frame;
a soil moving implement attached to the support member and disposed in a middle region between first and second rows of plants that moves soil from the middle region between the first and second rows to at least the rhizosphere of at least one of the first and second row of plants to cover fluid deposited in the rhizosphere as the soil moving implement traverses the field;
a biasing member disposed between the vertical member and the support member, wherein the biasing member is configured to apply a down force on the soil moving implement towards the soil to engage the soil moving implement with the soil, wherein the biasing member is configured to apply a lift force on the support member to disengage the soil moving implement from the soil; and
a cylindrically shaped depth guide attached to the soil moving implement to regulate a depth of the soil moving implement into the soil, wherein the soil moving implement and the cylindrically shaped depth guide rotate with a same axis of rotation, wherein the soil moving implement comprises at least one disc and the depth guide has a constant diameter that is less than a diameter of the at least one disc.